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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.18 COM | FEB. 11 - FEB. 17, 2022
I’m glad it’s done,” Wu
said. “Rachmaninoff is
one of my favorite musicians.
At the age of 9, I
read the Chinese translation
of ‘Sergei Rachmaninoff:
A Lifetime of
Music.’ I was fascinated
and moved by his life’s
magnificent ups and
downs and liked his music
even more. I think if
listeners can read the biography
and understand
Rachmaninoff’s experience
and state of mind,
listening to the concerto
will have a different feeling.”
Wu made his Carnegie
Hall debut in May
2018 playing with the
New York International
Chamber Orchestra,
playing Mendelssohn’s
Piano Concerto No. 1. He
has been studying piano
for nine years, abandoning
drums to focus on the
keyboard.
“The piano is a magical
instrument, which
can express all kinds
of emotions,” Wu explained.
“I want to share
my feelings through the
music. Music has opened
doors for me one after
another, from my hometown
to Shanghai and
then to New York, giving
me the opportunity to
contact with the wider
world. Wherever the music
takes me, I will keep
enjoying it and share it
with everyone.”
Before moving to
Queens, Wu studied
at the Music Middle
School of the Shanghai
Conservatory of Music.
He joined the Juilliard
Pre-College Program
as a student of Ernest
Barretta in September.
His performance at the
PIMF Winter Concerto
Competition stood out in
a competition that showcased
a talented field of
young musicians from
across the globe.
“It was quite literally
an outpouring of talent
submitted to our Winter
Virtual Concerto Competition
from all over the
world,” PIMF President
Sandy Marcucci said.
“Almost 300 young musicians
offered their video
performances, and the
skills and artistic levels
were simply dazzling.”
Judge Hai-Ye Ni,
principal cello of the
Philadelphia Orchestra,
agreed.
“The level this year
was very high,” she said.
“I was very impressed
by the effort that these
young people made, and
surprised by the countries
that the contestants
were from, from Singapore
and Russia, and beyond.
I am very hopeful
for the future of classical
music. It is going to get
better and better.”
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–
4538.
BY BILL PARRY
A 14-year-old student
from St. John’s Prep in
Astoria captured top
honors in a prestigious
international music competition.
The Philadelphia International
Music Festival
(PIMF) featured
nearly 300 musicians
ages 8 to 25 from around
the globe competing for
scholarships, as well as
a host of performance
opportunities, and Astoria
teenage pianist
Xuanxiang Wu won the
annual PIMF Winter
Concerto Competition’s
grand prize, including
a full scholarship to the
Philadelphia International
Music Festival’s
intensive classical music
training program this
summer, a private recital
in Philadelphia and a
featured performance on
the PIMF YouTube channel
.T
he youngster will
also take the stage next
fall in the PIMF Winners
Circle Concert, which
regularly features performances
by members
of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
The St. John’s Prep
student competed with
Rachmaninoff’s Piano
Concerto No.3 in D Minor
Op.30, “Allegro ma
nontanto.”
“This concerto was
one of my dream pieces.
Xuanxiang Wu from Astoria won the grand prize at the
annual PIMF Winter Concerto Competition.
Photo courtesy of Xuanxiang Wu
Astoria piano prodigy captures grand
prize at international competition
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