© 2024 WRTI
Your Classical and Jazz Source
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Watch and Listen: Philadelphia International Piano Competition Finalists Perform on WRTI 90.1

Finalists with PYPA Founder and Director Ching-Yun Hu and WRTI Classical Host Kevin Gordon

Listen to an exciting live performance by the three finalists of the 2018 Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy International Piano Competition. The competition is in its second year and has brought talented young artists to Philadelphia from all over the world. Join host Kevin Gordon as he welcomes PYPA founder Ching-Yun Hu and these three wonderful pianists.

Watch the broadcast recorded on WRTI's Facebook page.

16-year old Sarah Tuan was a top prize winner in several piano competitions including the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition and the San Jose International Piano Competition, among others. Last year, Sarah appeared on “From The Top” on WRTI 90.1. She’ll be playing the Variations Serieuses by Felix Mendelssohn.

Sophia Shuya Liu is the youngest competitor ever in the PYPA competition. She’s 9-years old.  She began playing piano at age 4 and made her her first public appearance the next year..  Sophia recently won the First Prize of category up 12 years of age and Third Prize of category 13-17 year olds in the Chopin International Piano Competition Hartford, Connecticut. She’ll be playing Franz Liszt’s version of the Waltz from Charles Gounod’s opera, Faust.

Yanzou Nicole Liu is 16-years old and has been playing piano since she was five. She won the first place in the fourth Kawai Asia piano competition Dalian Division. After a year studying at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music, she came to United States and is currently studying piano with Ching-Yun Hu. She’ll be playing the Abegg Variations by Robert Schumann.

A veteran broadcaster, Kevin garnered a wealth of experience in radio before taking the weekday classical host position from 2 to 6 PM at WRTI, where he was on the air until his retirement in March 2023.