Chinese pianist wins Munich competition, makes history

Chinese pianist Wang Liya won the first prize during the 74th edition of the ARD International Music Competition on Sunday in Munich, Germany.

She also won the Audience Prizes, Henle Urtext Prize, and ARD Klassik Media Prize during the competition.

"It is a great honor to receive these precious awards at the ARD International Music Competition, but what moves and delights me even more is the opportunity to share music with the world," says 23-year-old Wang.

"Music is the most, most, most treasured companion in my life, and in the world of music, I feel an unparalleled sense of fulfillment and happiness."

In 2020, she was admitted to the piano department of the Central Conservatory of Music as a piano major undergraduate with the top ranking. In 2024, Wang continued her studies as a master's degree candidate in the piano department of the Central Conservatory of Music. In 2022, she was also admitted to pursue a double major in organ at the Central Conservatory of Music, studying piano and organ performance simultaneously.

"Wang Liya achieved an inspiring result at the (ARD) competition, which is the best recognition of her talent and of the many years of perseverance and hard work she has devoted," says Chen Manchun, Wang's piano teacher.

"She has been with us since the age of 9 and has continued her studies here all the way through to her master's degree. Both in her major and in other courses, her performance has always been outstanding. She is also kind and considerate, a truly well-rounded student.

"In this competition, at every stage she sincerely conveyed her understanding and love of music, treating music with genuine devotion and allowing the audience to feel her innermost emotions. As her teacher, what makes me happiest is witnessing a student grow from a primary schoolchild into an independent-minded, distinctive pianist with her own musical insights. I believe this is the heartfelt wish of every teacher, and the musical path that every student should aspire to follow."

Founded in 1952, the ARD International Music Competition is one of the most renowned and influential classical music competitions in the world. Held annually in Munich, its categories vary each year.

The 74th edition of the competition opened in Munich on Sept 1. It consists of four rounds, with categories this year including clarinet, piano, and trumpet. The first round began on Sept 1 with the clarinet category, and the entire competition concluded on Sunday.

In this year's competition, in addition to Wang winning first prize in the piano category — becoming the first contestant from Chinese mainland to claim this title — students from the Central Conservatory of Music, Jiang Hongyi, a clarinetist, was awarded second prize, also setting a record for Chinese performers in this discipline.