Jointly reported by:
Chloe Soh Ke Er Jr2Z3
Sofea Chang Hui Zhou Sr1ComB
On 23rd July, Kuen Cheng High School Co-curricular Department led and collaborated with the Music Composing Society, Multimedia Society and Photography Club to livestream the 2022 Classical Piano Competition Final on Zoom video platform. On this day, audiences who watched the livestream were eligible to vote for the Popularity Award.
The competition was held in-person a week in advance and featured the performances of 16 contestants. The competition was divided into 2 groups, the intermediate and advanced groups, and there were 8 contestants from each.
For the intermediate group finals, a few pieces from well-known composers were played, including Chopin’s Nocturne op.9 no.2 played by Hew Jia Yi, Schubert’s Serenade played by Wong Wayern, Beethoven’s Fur Elise played by Chloe Soh Ke Er, and Sonatina op. 20 no.1 by Friedrich Kuhlau played by Bernice Yap Yi Qing. There was also Yong Xia Yuan who played Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, Tiffany Chin Hew Yan who played Tellemann’s Fantasy, Le Pei Xuan and Chan Tze Yi who played Burgmuller’s La Chevaleresque.
Yong Xia Yuan playing Maple Leaf Rag
For the advanced group finals, 20th century to modern era pieces were popular choices. Contestant John Foo Hong Liang performed “The Cat and the Mouse”, Ooi Xiao Qi performed “Jingo (no.3 from Rock Preludes 1)”, and Teh Jun Jie played Debussy’s “Reverie”. Beethoven pieces made a return to the stage, with Chang Liyang’s “Bagatelle in E flat” and Huang Jing Kang’s “Sonata in G major op.49 no.2”. Romantic era pieces such as Chopin’s “Waltz in E minor” and Brahm’s “Intermezzo in A major” were played by Yap Ji Ywee and Lim Zhe Yu respectively. Baroque sonatinas also made a return, with Liew Xiao Yu playing Clementi’s “Sonatina in F major op.36 no.4”.
Yap Ji Ywee playing Waltz in E minor
After a short break, it was time to announce the winners. But before that, Vice Principal Madam Koo Lai Ping was invited to deliver a memento to both judges to thank them for their attendance. In the intermediate group, the 3 Outstanding Awards went to Yong Xia Yuan, Chan Sze Yi and Wong Wayern. The Excellence Awards went to Bernice Yap Yi Qing, Chloe Soh Ke Er and Hew Jia Yi. The Consolation Awards went to Tiffany Chin Hue Yan and Le Pei Xuan, and the Popularity Award went to Yong Xia Yuan.
In the advanced group, the 3 Outstanding Awards went to Lim Zhe Yu, Ooi Xiao Qi and Huang Jing Kang. The Excellence Awards went to John Foo, Teh Jun Jie and Liew Xiao Yu; the Consolation Awards went to Yap Ji Ywee and Chang Liyang. The Popularity Award went to Ooi Xiao Qi, who was praised by the judges for her good projection.
The final results of the competition
After the awards ceremony, everyone made their way on stage for a group photo. Then, judges Dr. Ho Su Han and Mr. Lim Tao were invited to give comments on everyone’s performances. They emphasized the importance of projection in performances, and explained why piano performances don’t require microphones and sound systems. They also provided feedback to the contestants on how they could improve their performances, from aspects such as stage presence, detailed articulation and expressions in playing, and choosing accurate versions of sheet music.
Judges Dr. Ho Su Han and Mr. Lim Tao