Riku C. Sakai, age 15, is a high school freshman. He is currently studying with Ms. Erna Gulabyan and has been since 2018. Riku received two 1st places in 2020 USOMC, 1st place in Best Liszt and Best Prokofiev Performances from Great Composer Competition, 1st place in AFAF Romantic Music with an invitation to Carnegie Hall, 1st place and two 2nd places in 2019 USOMC, 1st place in 2018 USOMC with an additional Outstanding Gold Medalist Award, 3rd place in Chopin Competition 2018. Riku also played in an ensemble and won 1st place in 2017 American Protégé Competition (including performing at Carnegie Hall), 2nd place in 2017 USIMC, and 3rd place in 2017 USOMC. While not playing piano, Riku loves to play soccer at a competitive Premier League.
Piano Sonata No.2 Op.14 4th Movement, Sergei Prokofiev, 4 minutes 44 seconds
https://youtu.be/LRm8KlS1j50
La Campanella, Franz Liszt, 4 minutes 57 seconds
https://youtu.be/ccsDzcFOhe4
