Nini Lei, age 13, from Irvine, California, started piano lessons at age 4, and currently studies with Dr. Kookhee Hong. Her love for piano has been recognized in various competitions, including First Place at Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Theme Festival in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2021 and 2022, First Place in Open Concerto at 2022 Southwestern Youth Music Festival, First Place in Prodigy Category and Judges’ Special Award at 2022 Satori Young Pianist Contest, First Place in Open Solo and Open Concerto at 2021 Satori Young Pianist Contest, Second Prize at the VII Paderewski International Piano Competition, Third Place in Division I at 2021 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, and Silver Award at South California Junior Bach Festival in 2021 and 2022.
Nini is enthusiastic about chamber music as well. Her violin/cello/piano trio won First Place Alternate at 2022 MTAC VOCE Ensemble State Final Competition, and her piano/violin duet won First Place at 2021 JCM Chamber Music Competition. In addition, she performed at 2022 MTAC State Convention as the pianist for Reena Esmail’s new composition Dhire-Dhire (soprano/piano/violin/cello). Nini loves to paint and read historical fictions as a break from her piano practice, and she also enjoys getting music inspiration from her parrots by playing classical music to them.
1) Barcarolle in F Sharp Major, Op. 60, Frédéric Chopin, 8:32 (to be converted to audio)
2) Prelude and Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 868, Johann Sebastian Bach, 3:45
