FIRST PRIZE
Brandon Hwang, Age 16
USA
Score: 92.89
Brandon Hwang, 16, is a sophomore at Ramsey High School. He started playing piano at age eight and has been a student of Stella Xu since 2015. Brandon has won several honors and awards including 1st place in the New Jersey Music Teachers Association Young Musicians Competition, an alternate in the New Jersey Music Teachers National Association Junior Competition, 1st place in the Camerata Artists International Competition, and the gold prize winner of the Vivo International Music Competition. He is also the 2nd place winner in the Steinway and Sons Junior Piano Competition, three-time winner of the Cecilian Music Club Young Artists Piano Competition, as well as a two-time 1st place recipient at the New Jersey Music Educators Association Piano Competition. Recently, Brandon received the National League of Performing Arts’ NLPA Scholarship, which was awarded to the top five performers among the grand prize recipients based on musical merit. Additionally, he participated in a state-wide master class with Professor Peter Frankl at the Thurnauer School of Music at JCC. His performances at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Victoria Theater in the NJPAC have all been well received. Outside of piano competitions, Brandon is the founder and organizer for “Spirit of Music,” a group of pianists that performs seasonal concerts for senior citizens; the organization has been continuing since 2018. Brandon also serves as a volunteer with the Thurnauer School of Music, helping and assisting with future masterclasses and community-oriented benefit concerts. In his spare time, he loves to volunteer, research history, and bike with friends.
Sonata in E- Flat Major, Op 81a, "Les Adieux" by Ludwig Van Beethoven(6:10)
I. Adagio-Allegro
Sonata in A-Major, Op. 82, No. 6 by Sergei Prokofiev(8:47)
I. Allegro moderato
