Kevin Chen, a 20-year-old pianist hailing from Calgary, secured the second spot in the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, while American musician Eric Lu clinched the prestigious first place. Chen, alongside 10 other finalists, showcased their piano prowess by performing a concerto with the Warsaw Philharmonic and conductor Andrey Boreyko during the final round on October 18, 19, and 20. Notably, out of the 84 competitors participating in this year’s event, five were Canadians, including Victoria Wong, Ryan Wang, Eric Guo, and Athena Deng.
The winner was selected after meticulous deliberations by a 17-member international jury led by American pianist Garrick Ohlsson. The top prize in the 98-year-old competition includes a cash award of 60,000 euros (approximately $98,000 CAD) and a gold medal presented by the president of Poland. Kevin Chen received the silver medal and 40,000 euros (around $65,000 CAD), while China’s Zitong Wang, securing the third position, was awarded a bronze medal and 35,000 euros (approximately $57,000 CAD).
Reflecting on Chen’s performance in Warsaw, Janet Lopinski, president and artistic director of the Canadian Chopin Society, shared her excitement at witnessing his talent, stating, “When it was down to just first and second [place], and there was a dramatic pause, I sort of knew [Kevin’s] name was either going to be read for second or for first.”
Kevin Chen embarked on his musical journey at the age of five and made his orchestral debut with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra at the age of seven. His exceptional talent was recognized early on when, at just eight years old, he was featured on CBC Music’s list of 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30 in 2013.
Having claimed numerous accolades in prestigious competitions, including first prizes in the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv in 2023, the Geneva International Music Competition in 2022, and the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Budapest in 2021, Kevin Chen has now established his base in Hanover, Germany.
To secure his place in the final stage of the competition, Chen successfully navigated through a preliminary round held in April and May, followed by three successive solo recitals in October: Stage 1 involving 84 pianists, Stage 2 with 40 pianists, and Stage 3 with 20 pianists. For his final performance, Chen chose to showcase Chopin’s Piano Concerto in E Minor, Op. 11.
Canadian pianists have demonstrated a strong presence and success in the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. Noteworthy achievements include Montreal’s Bruce Liu winning the gold medal in 2021, and Joliette, Que., pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin securing the silver medal in 2015. Vietnamese Canadian pianist Dang Thai Son also claimed the gold medal in 1980.
This prestigious competition, held every five years around October 17 to commemorate Chopin’s passing, propels its first prize laureate into the global limelight with a busy schedule of concert engagements worldwide and high-profile recording projects. Past laureates of the competition include renowned pianists such as Maurizio Pollini (1960), Martha Argerich (1965), Garrick Ohlsson (1970), Krystian Zimerman (1975), Đặng Thái Sơn (1980), Yundi Li (2000), and Seong-Jin Cho (2015).
