TAIPEI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A piano competition for young people from the Asia Pacific was held in Taiwan's New Taipei City Tuesday, drawing many professionals and visitors.
The 4th Steinway Regional Finals Asia Pacific saw eight contestants show off their piano playing abilities at the KHS Hall. The contestants, the youngest of them only 11 years old, beat out their competitors in several rounds before edging into the final in Taiwan.
"I did not feel nervous at all," said 11-year-old Shih Yi-chen from Taiwan, who placed first in the competition. "I've participated in similar competitions on the mainland before, and this is another valuable experience."
"I started playing the piano since I was four years old, and this is the biggest competition I have ever participated in," said Meng Yiruixue Jessie, also 11, from Singapore. "It is great to compete with other excellent pianists, and I learned a lot from them."
Li Weiming, one of the judges, said the young musicians put on quite a show for the audience with their outstanding skills and strong musical presentation. "It's quite amazing to see these young people show their talent."
More contestants from different localities in the Asia Pacific will be considered for the competition in the future, according to the organizer.
The Hamburg Steinway Festival is a biennial event created in Germany in 1984. Its purpose is to identify and encourage young pianists, gathering them from around the world for a musical congregation in Germany.
Beginning in 2012, contestants from countries and regions in the Asia Pacific started to compete in the regional competition. The winner gets the opportunity to go to the musical congregation in Germany and meet other pianists from around the world.
