The San Francisco Conservatory of Music student won First Prize ($15,000), the Concerto Prize ($5000), the People’s Choice Prize ($5000) and Best Performance of an Australian Work ($1000).
She also received a number of performance prizes in Australia and overseas. Second place went to Gold Coast student Roger Cui, also 18- years-old ($5000), third place went to 16-year-old Denny Liu from New Zealand ($3000) and another very talented 16-year-old from Brisbane, Oliver She, was placed fourth ($2000).
Denny Lui was also awarded Best Performance of a Virtuoso Study ($1000) and Best Performance of a Classical Sonata ($1000). The Queensland Orchestra, conducted by Marco Zuccarini accompanied the finalists.
Prizes were also awarded to Amir Farid (Encouragement Award $1000), Gregory Kinda (Best Performance of a Prelude and Fugue $1000) and Peter de Jager (The Enid Lane Memorial Prize for Mozart $1000).
The Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition was established in memory of the late Professor Lev Vlassenko, the world-renowned international concert pianist and teacher. The competition encourages young pianists at the threshold of their professional lives to develop performance skills, increase their public profile and prepare professional careers.
The competition is the only major national piano event in Australia that mirrors the requirements of an international competition, such as a demanding repertoire, national and international jury members, with all rounds open to the public, and the final concerto round performed with a major symphony orchestra (The Queensland Orchestra).