[introduction music]

Adam Eccleston: Hello, from All Classical Radio. I'm Adam Eccleston, guest hosting for WQXR. Tonight is all about piano. We feature the six finalists from the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists playing music by Mozart, Ravel, and Chopin on this edition of the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase. Since 1978, the Young Artists Showcase has been generously supported by The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. Just three years earlier in 1975, the first Cleveland International Piano Competition took place, though at the time it was called The Casadesus International Piano Competition after French pianist, Robert Casadesus.

Now its host organization, Piano Cleveland, promotes its home city as a premier piano destination by presenting world-class programming, community engagement, and education initiatives. The organization has four major programs, which includes the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Adults, the Young Artist Competition, and year-round education and community outreach programming. They also have a program that donates pianos to schools, community centers, and students' homes. Known as one of the top competitions in the world, the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists presents the six finalists, aged 11 to 18, in a performance with the Canton Symphony Orchestra conducted by Steven Bias.

Let's listen in on this year's competition, which took place this past July. First on the program from the Junior Division is third prize winner, Zhonghua Wei, performing the first movement of Mozart's Sonata No. 14 in C Minor.

[MUSIC - Mozart: Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. 457, I. Molto allegro- Zhonghua Wei, Piano]

Adam Eccleston: 14-year-old pianist Zhonghua Wei with some Mozart. Third prize winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, Junior Division, and special prize winner of best Bach interpretation. Here's the second-prize winner of the Junior Division. Qinyaoyao Ji plays a riveting rendition of Felix Mendelssohn's Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, arranged for piano by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

[MUSIC - Rachmaninoff/Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream- Qinyaoyao Ji, Piano]

Adam Eccleston: 13-year-old pianist, Qinyaoyao Ji, second prize winner of the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, Junior Division. Qinyaoyao Ji playing Felix Mendelssohn's Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, arranged for Piano by Sergei Rachmaninoff. You're listening to the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase on WQXR. I'm Adam Eccleston from All Classical Radio. Tonight, we feature the six finalists of the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, Junior and Senior Division. Here's the first-prize winner of the Junior Division, Elisey Mysin playing two selections. The third movement from Mozart's Sonata No. 7 in C Major, followed by Mozskowski/ Volodos, Étude Op. 36, No. 6.

[MUSIC - Mozart: Sonata No. 7 in C Major, K. 309, III. Rondo: Allegretto grazioso- Elisey Mysin, Piano]

[MUSIC - Moszkowski/Volodos: Étude Op. 36, No. 6 (“Étincelles”)- Elisey Mysin, Piano]

Adam Eccleston: Wow, that was 12-year-old pianist, Elisey Mysin, first prize winner of the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, Junior Division, and winner of the Audience Choice Award, along with the best interpretation of Mozart. We just heard him playing the third movement for Mozart's Sonata Number 7 in C Major, followed by Moszkowski/Volodos Étude Op. 36, No. 6. It's time for a quick break now. Then we'll be back to hear the three finalists in the Senior Division of the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists.

Welcome back. I'm Adam Eccleston from All Classical Radio, guest hosting for WQXR. Today we are featuring the six finalists of the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. We just heard the three finalists for the Junior Division. Now we will hear the three finalists from the Senior Division, starting with the third prize winner, Ryan Wang, playing La Valse by Maurice Ravel.

[MUSIC - Ravel: La Valse- Ryan Wang, Piano]

Adam Eccleston: What an ending That was 15-year-old pianist, Ryan Wang, third prize winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, Senior Division, playing Ravel's La Valse. The second-prize winner of the Senior Division is Yanyan Bao. Tonight we will hear her play Ravel's Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit based on the poem, Ondine, which tells the story of the water nymph singing to seduce the observer into visiting her kingdom in the deep.

[MUSIC - Ravel: Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit- Yanyan Bao, Piano]

Adam Eccleston: Certainly heard the water nymphs there. Magical playing by 16-year-old pianist, Yanyan Bao, second prize winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, Senior Division. She also won the best interpretation of Mozart. And now, the top prize winner of the Senior Division is Saehyun Kim. We will hear him play a stunning performance of Chopin's Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61.

[MUSIC - Chopin: Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61- Saehyun Kim, Piano]

Adam Eccleston: Such sensitive playing and clear attention to detail. That was 16-year-old pianist, Saehyun Kim, the top prize winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, Senior Division, and also claimed the Audience Choice Award. We just heard Saehyun Kim playing Chopin's Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61.

Congratulations to all of the winners from this year's Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. If you'd like to learn more about the competition or the winners, visit pianocleveland.org.

What a great way to close out the night. I am Adam Eccleston from All Classical Radio. Thank you for joining on this week's edition of the Young Artists Showcase, which is generously underwritten on WQXR by The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. Here is Terry McGraw with more.

Terry McGraw: Good evening, everyone. It's great to be with you, and it's always great being with the Young Artists Showcase and to hear these really wonderful and inspiring musicians as they continue to share their incredible gifts with us every week. I can't wait to hear the fabulous talent coming up on the showcase, and I am so pleased to be able to support the series all through its well over four decades on WQXR. And there's so much more to come.

Adam Eccleston: Thank you, Terry. Next week, we'll hear incredible flute players from Sir James Galway's Flute Academy. Music of Frank Martin, Reinecke, Roussel, and others. You definitely do not want to miss it. A special thank you to WQXR program producers, Laura Boyman and Max Fine. Our generous program underwriter is The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. From All Classical Radio, I'm Adam Eccleston on WQXR. Have a good night.

[music]

Copyright © 2023 New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use at www.wnyc.org for further information.

New York Public Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline, often by contractors. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of New York Public Radio’s programming is the audio record.