Three young pianists, Jessica Chi, Shuan Liu and Otis Prescott-Mason, shine at the final of the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition.
Prize Winners at the 2021 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition: Catherine Chang, Jessica Chi, Shuan Liu, Otis Prescott-Mason Photo: Adrian Malloch
The Lewis Eady National Piano Competition has been running since 2013. It’s held every two years and previous winners were Jason Bae, Delvan Lin, Lixin Zhang, and Tony Yan Tong Chen.
The intention was that the competition would be held again in 2021. Well, Covid-19 put paid to that – two times the event was due to go ahead and two times it was cancelled. Thank goodness, they managed to put it on in February 2022, just before the wave of Omicron came through the country. The Diocesan Arts Centre was the venue.
This year there were 15 semifinalists and three were chosen to perform at the final in front of adjudicator Terence Dennis and a small red-traffic-light-level-compliant audience.
Jessica Chi (Third Prize)
Jessica Chi Photo: Adrian Malloch
21-year old Jessica Chi is currently studying at the University of Auckland School of Music. Away from the piano, Jessica is also a professional illustrator.
Shuan Liu (Second Prize)
Shuan Liu Photo: Adrian Malloch
18-year old Shuan Liu was, at the time of the competition, a second year student at the University of Auckland, studying with Rae de Lisle and Stephen De Pledge.
Otis Prescott-Mason (First Prize)
Otis Prescott-Mason Photo: Lewis Eady Charitable Trust
18 years old, Otis Prescott-Mason studies with Jian Liu at Victoria University. Otis was the winner of this event’s companion contest, the 2020 National Junior Piano Competition.
Recorded by RNZ Concert
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay
