Pro Musica Features Piano Prodigies Aged 7 to 15 in Final Concert of the Season

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Last Mélodînes Concert, Mini-Piano Gala | May 1^st, 12 p.m. at Place des arts: Pro Musica is delighted to announce that the last concert in the Mélodînes series will be a unique and unprecedented event. To crown this season of Mélodînes, artistic director Irina Krasnyanskaya has taken the initiative of bringing together piano prodigies aged 7 to 15, all of whom have made a name for themselves for their talent and musicality in various competitions. So, seven young (and sometimes very young) instrumentalists will be the musicians at this mini-piano Gala.

Program:

Johann Sebastian Bach, Prelude and Fugue in E flat minor, BWV853

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Sonata no. 23 in F minor, Op.57, “Appassionata” – I. Allegro assai

Claude Debussy, Arabesque no. 1, L.66

William Gillock, Moonlight mood; Fountain in the rain

Mikhail Glinka, The Lark, arr. Mili Balakirev

Franz Liszt, Concert paraphrase on Rigoletto, S. 434

Frédéric Chopin, Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, Op.47

Franz Liszt, Étude d’exécution transcendante, S 139, no. 9 in A flat major, “Ricordanza

Frédéric Chopin, Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op.23

Franz Liszt, Mephisto Waltz no. 1 in A major, S 514

About the Artists

Barron Ji Yu Jiang, 14, began playing the piano at age 4 and made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 7. In 2017, he began his musical studies at the Conservatoire and has since been a prizewinner at the Canadian Music Competition, Omni Music Competition, Hartford International Chopin Piano Competition, Classival Music Competition and the Sherbrooke and Capitale Music Competitions. He won the Grand Prize at the Festival de musique classique de Montréal (2018) and the Canadian Music Competition (2020).

Emily Xinyan Zhou, aged 7, began her piano studies at the age of 4. At age 5, she won the gold medal at the festival-Concours de musique de Sherbrooke and 1st prize at the festival de musique classique de Montréal. At age 6, she won 1st prize in the Piano Solo and Concerto categories at the Festival Concours de musique de Sherbrooke. She also won 1st prize at the festival de musique classique de Montréal and the gold medal at the Steinway Canada Piano Competition.

Ryan Jiang, 7, began playing the piano at the age of 5. He quickly demonstrated exceptional musicality and talent. At age 6, he won the silver medal at the Concours de musique de la Capitale and became a finalist at the Canadian Music Competition the same year.

Rui Liu, aged 11, began her piano studies at 6, and was admitted to the Conservatoire de musique at 9. From an early age, she showed great musicality and sensitivity. Since then, she has won several prizes, including first place at the Little Mozart Competition in 2021, finalist honors at the Canadian Music Competition in 2022 and 2023, and 1st prize in the Junior Grand Champion trophy at the Festival de musique classique de Montréal 2023.

Brandon Bing, 12, began his musical journey at the age of 6. Brandon’s dedication and hard work at the piano paid off, as he went on to win several prizes in various events, including the Concours de musique de la Capitale, the Canadian Music Competition and the Crescendo Competition. In 2023, he was accepted into the piano program at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec.

Ethan Yang, 14, began his musical journey at the age of 5 in Kingston. In 2022, he was awarded the Junior Grand Champion of the Montreal Classical Music Festival, first prize in the 4^th OMNI Music Competition and first prize in the Canadian Music Competition. In 2023, he won the Coupe Saint-Germain at the Concours de musique de la Capitale.

Sophia Shuya Liu, 15, began playing the piano at the age of 4. She went on to win numerous prizes in various competitions: the Kobe Piano Competition in Japan, the Chinese International Piano Competition, the Hangzhou Compositions Competition, the Canadian Music Competition, the Hartford International Chopin Competition and the Philadelphia International Piano Competition. In 2022, she won first prize in category A at the 18th Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany. In 2023, Sophia won 1^st prize at The Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition and performed with the Cleveland Orchestra.