Honens International Piano Competition: Meet the Semifinalists

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As we approach this year’s Honens International Piano Competition, beginning Oct. 16 in Calgary, 10 semifinalists remain. These young pianists boast vibrant lives outside of the competition as multidisciplinary artists, writers, students, teachers and activists.

Ádám Balogh

Winner of the Honens 2022 prize for Best Performance of the Commissioned Work, Balogh is one to watch throughout this competition. Since 2022, Balogh has pursued a career as a piano soloist alongside a master’s degree, studying with Arie Vardi, Dénes Várjon and Gábor Farkas.

Elia Cecino

One of the youngest competitors this year, Cecino is no less accomplished than his peers. In 2020, he recorded the album Un pian pentru București (“A Piano for Bucharest”) as part of the Kinder in Not Association, which aids unhoused children in Bucharest, Romania. The sales helped him to purchase a piano for the children living at a group home. He has competed in numerous competitions, including the Iturbi International Piano Competition, where he received the first prize.

Carter Johnson

Born in Campbell River, B.C., Johnson is not only a performer, but also an instructor as he completes his studies at the Yale School of Music. His unique educational background in speech and drama lends him the ability to not only perform with technical precision, but also to provide thoughtful, eloquent pre-performance discussions.

Giorgio Lazzari

Lazzari is from Bergamo in Northern Italy, which might explain his particular fondness for German and Austrian repertoire. His work with fellow musician and violinist Sofia Manvati as part of their group Duo Rodin is only one aspect of his work as a collaborative performer. His recent work with Duo Rodin, “Cavalcando l’altro ieri per un cammino,” inspired by Dante’s sonnet, touches on themes of identity, cultural exchange and a love for Italy.

Sandro Nebieridze

Only one of two contestants under the age of 25, Nebieridze’s diverse artistic pursuits include not only the piano, but also a fascination with opera since he was a child, and a love for writing poetry. His book of poetry, Departure of the Prodigal Son, touches on his experiences leaving his home in Tbilisi, Georgia, to pursue music in Germany.

Chaeyoung Park

Park made her Carne-gie Hall debut in 2019, at just 21 years old, after winning the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. She is also a staple of Groupmuse, a musician-led co-operative which provides affordable access to music by bringing prominent musicians to casual spaces like local living rooms and backyards. Park frequently returns to her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, to share music with her community.

Élisabeth Pion

Having performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Pion will be at home in nearby Calgary. She has appeared on CBC/Radio-Classique, and was nominated to join Révélation Radio-Canada 2024-2025 as a representative of the Canadian classical music scene. Her original composition for the short film Spirit of the Tree was awarded Best Original Score at the Vesuvius International Film Festival 2023.

Anastasia Vorotnaya

Vorotnaya can point to a singular pivotal moment in her music career: her performance of Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 alongside the Orquesta de Cámara de la Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía. There, Vorotnaya feels she achieved a depth of emotion that she now prioritizes in her work. The Russian pianist has also recorded a CD of piano sonatas by Medtner and Rachmaninoff.

Derek Wang

Wang describes himself as a “pianist and communicator,” emphasizing the social aspects of music and performance as exemplified in his world with Juilliard Station, a free multidisciplinary celebration of the arts. As the space’s curator, Wang aims to celebrate the arts scene of New York with a series of community-facing classes and performances. This showcase is informed by his multidisciplinary work with choreographers, film directors, opera houses and poets.

Yuanfan Yang

Yang’s improvisational performance at the 2025 Casagrande International Piano Competition welcomed audience suggestions, culminating in original pieces created in a uniquely collaborative environment. It is, therefore, no surprise that he won the Audience Prize. His compositions often take a narrative approach, drawing on allegories and folktales that allow him to connect to audiences through familiar emotions.