2026 COMPETITION PROGRAMME
Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition
Presented by CLEF - Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation & proudly supported by Lewis Eady Steinway NZ
Welcome to the 2026 Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition
The Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation is proud to present this prestigious competition, providing New Zealand’s most talented young pianists with the opportunity to perform before a live audience and showcase their artistry at a national level.
Performance opportunities such as these are an essential part of a young musician’s development. Beyond the competition itself, they provide valuable experience in preparing and presenting substantial programmes, refining performance skills, and building confidence. For many competitors, the Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition serves as an important stepping stone towards advanced study, international competitions, and future musical careers.
A career in music demands dedication, resilience, and passion. Through this competition, the Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation remains committed to supporting and encouraging the next generation of New Zealand pianists as they pursue their musical aspirations.
We extend our sincere thanks to the teachers whose expertise and commitment have helped prepare these young musicians, and to the parents, families, and supporters whose encouragement makes their musical journeys possible.
We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors, funders, donors, and volunteers whose generosity enables this competition to take place.
Most importantly, we congratulate all competitors for their hard work and achievements in reaching this stage. We invite you to enjoy the performances of some of New Zealand’s finest young pianists and celebrate the remarkable talent, dedication, and artistry on display throughout the competition.
John Eady | Trustee
CLEF - Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation
2026 Competition
15 - 19 JULY
VENUES:
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND SCHOOL OF MUSIC
6 SYMONDS STREET, AUCKLAND
LEWIS EADY STEINWAY NZ SHOWROOM
75 GREAT SOUTH ROAD, REMUERA, AUCKLAND
Event Details
15 July | OPENING CEREMONY [invite only]
Lewis Eady Steinway NZ
16 July | SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS
The University of Auckland School of Music
Session Times
Session 1: 9:30am – 11:10am
Session 2: 11:40am – 1:20pm
Session 3: 3:00pm – 4:20pm
Finalists announced: 4:40pm
17 July | NON-FINALIST MASTERCLASS
Lewis Eady Steinway NZ
10:00am – 1:00pm - Free Event
17 July | RECITAL BY ALEX BAI
Winner of the 2024 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition
The University of Auckland School of Music
Doors open: 7:00pm - Start: 7:30pm - Finish: 9:30pm
18 July | GRAND FINAL
The University of Auckland School of Music
4:00pm – 7:00pm
19 July | FINALIST MASTERCLASS
Lewis Eady Steinway NZ
10:00am – 1:00pm - Free Event
About the Competition
The Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition provides New Zealand’s most promising young pianists with an opportunity to showcase their talent and compete at a national level. The competition is open to students currently attending intermediate or secondary school.
The competition begins with a recorded audition round, assessed by a Preliminary Adjudicator. From these submissions, 15 competitors are selected to progress to the live competition stage.
Semi-finalists present a recital programme of up to 20 minutes, chosen by the competitor. Programmes must include works from at least three different musical periods, demonstrating both versatility and breadth of repertoire.
Following the semi-finals, the adjudicator selects six finalists to advance to the Grand Final. The competition concludes with a prize-giving ceremony celebrating the achievements of New Zealand’s leading young pianists.
Prizes
1st | $2,000
Kindly donated by Murray Jacobs
2nd | $1,000
3rd | $500
Kindly donated by Bentley Auckland
Other Finalists | $200
Best Performance of a Classical Sonata | $500
Best Performance of a NZ Composition | $250
Introducing…
Adjudicator
Glenn Riddle
Glenn studied piano at the University of Melbourne with Ronald Farren-Price before undertaking postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London, and the University for Music and the Performing Arts in Vienna. A recipient of numerous prestigious scholarships, he was also a prizewinner in the National Kawai and Yamaha Competitions.
Glenn is Senior Lecturer in Keyboard at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Research Associate at the University of Waikato, and Visiting Professor at the Nanjing University of Arts. He is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading piano pedagogues, with students achieving major successes in international and national competitions and performing with leading orchestras around the world.
An active performer, examiner, adjudicator, and international lecturer, Glenn has presented recitals, masterclasses, and workshops throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and North America. He has served on juries for numerous international piano competitions and has contributed extensively to piano pedagogy through publications, research, and editorial work. His discography includes 15 recordings for major labels, and he continues to perform as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist.
Recitalist
Alex Bai
Join us for an exceptional recital by Alex Bai, one of New Zealand’s most outstanding young pianists and a leading talent of his generation.
At just 15 years old, Alex has already established an impressive national and international reputation. Audiences will have the opportunity to hear the 2024 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition winner in a programme that showcases his remarkable artistry, technical brilliance, and musical maturity.
About Alex
Alex (Xuyao) Bai is a Year 11 student at Dilworth School in Auckland and studies piano with Stephen De Pledge. He began learning piano at the age of five and has quickly established himself as one of New Zealand’s most promising young pianists.
In 2024, Alex became the youngest-ever winner of the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition at just 14 years old. He was awarded Second Prize at the International Piano Competition Kronberg (Germany) in 2025 and has recently qualified for several major international competitions in Europe, including the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth (Poland), the Ettlingen International Piano Competition (Germany), and Concertino Praga (Czech Republic) in 2026.
Alex has performed solo recitals in New Zealand and Germany and has appeared with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Alongside his solo work, he is an enthusiastic chamber musician and regularly performs at community and charity events.
A multi-instrumentalist, Alex also plays the clarinet and violin and is an active member of Dilworth School’s Senior Concert Band and Chamber Orchestra.
Programme
Bach: Overture, Allemande and Gigue from Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV 828
Mozart: Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegretto
INTERVAL
Chopin: Variations on “Là ci darem la mano”, Op. 2
Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514
Meet our Competitors
Semi-finalists in alphabetical order by surname:
Ozan BINER-McGRATH
Louis DE BIASIO
Daisy DENG
William DING
Anya FANG
Kathleen FU
Peter HU
Olivia MU
Steven SONG
Daniel WANG
Henry WANG
William XU
Leo YANG
Ryan YEH
Samuel YUAN
1st Reserve | Jonathan QIAO
2nd Reserve | Jacob LIU
Ozan Biner-McGrath
Clementi: Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 40 No. 2 — II. Largo, mesto e patetico – Allegro – Tempo I – Presto
Ritchie: Prelude No. 16, In Memory of Shostakovich
Debussy: Poissons d’or
Rachmaninoff: Étude-Tableau in C Minor, Op. 39 No. 1
Ozan Biner-McGrath was born in Dunedin and is a Year 13 student at Logan Park High School. He began piano lessons with his father, Tom McGrath, who is his current teacher along with Terence Dennis. He has also studied with John Colwill and participated in masterclasses with Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Jeremy Denk, and Jian Liu. In 2025, Ozan was an NZSO Emerging Artist, performing Schumann at the Michael Fowler Centre. He also won the 2025 Dunedin Concerto Competition, was a finalist in the 2023 Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition, and a semi-finalist in the 2024 National Piano Competition.
Louis De Biasio
Haydn: Piano Sonata in A-flat Major, Hob. XVI:46 — I. Allegro moderato
Gillian Whitehead: Arapatiki
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 82 — IV. Vivace
Louis De Biasio is a Year 12 student at Avondale College. He started studying piano with Katherine Austin in 2024 and has since studied with Rae De Lisle, beginning in 2025. Louis has competed in many regional competitions, with highlights including first place in the 25-and-under recital class at HPAC, a nomination for YPOTY, and an Outstanding Soloist award at the KBB competition. He is also heavily involved in jazz, where his student-led combo achieved gold at the NYJC. Aside from piano, he plays bassoon in his school symphony and performs in many musicals around Auckland on both piano and bassoon.
Daisy Deng
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 — I. Vivace ma non troppo; II. Prestissimo
Ravel: Toccata (from Le tombeau de Couperin)
Rachmaninoff: Prelude in E-flat Major, Op. 23 No. 6
Farr: The Horizon (from Owhiro)
Daisy Deng began studying piano at the age of nine and is currently a Year 13 student at Rangitoto College. She currently studies with Rae de Lisle and has previously studied with Yeh Chin and Sifan Chen. She has a strong passion for piano and greatly values every opportunity to learn and perform. Through her musical studies, she continues to deepen her appreciation for music and artistic expression.
William Ding
Paul Schramm: What a Silly Joke
Haydn: Piano Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI:50 — I. Allegro
Kapustin: Big Band Sounds, Op. 46
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12, S. 244/12
William Ding is a Wellington-based pianist. He began piano studies at the age of seven with Chingfen Lee and has studied with Dr Jian Liu for the past four years. Over recent years, William has earned recognition at both regional and national levels, including First Prize in the Sonata Celebration in Wellington and a Grand Final placing in the Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition in 2023, where his performance was broadcast on RNZ Concert. William is also an avid chamber musician and will perform with the NZSO in September.
Anya Fang
Haydn: Piano Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52 — I. Allegro
Liam Furey: Preludes for Piano — Nos. 1, 3 and 6
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 1
Anya Fang is a dedicated 17-year-old musician and Head of Instrumental Music at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. Anya has been learning piano since the age of five and has studied with Sun Yi, Neville Baird, and Melanie Lina. Currently, she is under the tutelage of Michael Endres. In 2022, Anya achieved the ATCL with Distinction on piano and was selected for the 2024 New Zealand National Piano Concerto semi-finals. This year, Anya attended the Akaroa Music Festival as a Snowden Scholar and has also been awarded the Junior Pettman Music Scholarship.
Kathleen Fu
Bach: Italian Concerto, BWV 971 — I. Allegro
Glinka/Balakirev: The Lark (from A Farewell to Saint Petersburg)
David Farquhar: Partita — II. and III. Movements
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3 — I. Presto
Kathleen Fu is a Year 13 student at Pinehurst School, studying piano under Bryan Sayer. She has achieved outstanding success in both international and local music competitions, earning second place at the Pacific Rim International Music Festival and receiving first and second prizes in competitions including North Shore Performing Arts, South Auckland Performing Arts, IRMT, Hamilton, and Te Awamutu competitions. Kathleen is also the recipient of the Beverley Bryant Scholarship from Te Awamutu. Alongside piano, she studies violin and opera singing, demonstrating versatility and dedication across multiple musical disciplines.
Peter Hu
Marcello/Bach: Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974 — II. Adagio
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 — I. Vivace ma non troppo; Adagio espressivo
Chopin: Prelude in B-flat Minor, Op. 28 No. 16
Gareth Farr: Tentang Cara Gamelan
Mozart/Volodos: Concert Paraphrase on the Turkish March
(Hao Tian) Peter Hu is a 15-year-old pianist based in Auckland and a Year 11 student at Saint Kentigern College. He began studying piano at the age of four under GaWon Kim and has since earned the FRSM diploma. He has been recognised with numerous national and international awards, including first prize in the Open Section at the 2025 Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival. In 2024, Peter was a semi-finalist in the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition, and in 2026, he was nominated by NSPAS to perform at the PACANZ National Young Performer Awards.
Olivia Mu
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein” — I. Allegro con brio
Schumann: Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17 — I. Durchaus fantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen
Douglas Lilburn: Bagatelle No. 1
Olivia Mu is a Year 9 student at St Cuthbert’s College. She began studying piano at the age of five and has developed a strong passion for classical piano performance. Olivia especially enjoys exploring the works of Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann. Through competitions, performances, and recording projects, she continues to develop her artistic voice, with a particular interest in tone colour and musical storytelling. In addition to piano, she is actively involved in her school orchestra, band, and choir. Outside of music, Olivia enjoys sports, reading, and listening to music.
Steven Song
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, Op. 7 — I. Allegro molto e con brio
Ross Harris: Study in Blue and Green
Chopin: Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39
Steven Song is a Year 10 student at Auckland Grammar School. He started learning piano in 2021 and currently studies with Stephen de Pledge. He has won many regional competitions, such as NSPAS and IRMT, as well as the Best Performance of a New Zealand Work Award at the Lewis Eady National Competition, and reached the national finals of the NZCT Competition last year. Aside from piano, he also plays clarinet in his school orchestra and the AYO. Outside of music, he enjoys maths and programming.
Daniel Wang
Mozart: Piano Sonata in D Major, K. 576 — I. Allegro
Glinka/Balakirev: The Lark (from A Farewell to Saint Petersburg)
Young: Elusive Dream
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 14 — IV. Vivace
(Dingquan) Daniel Wang was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2012. He attended King’s School from the age of four and is currently a Year 9 student at Auckland Grammar School. During his time at King’s School, Daniel served as Music Scholar and Head of Music. He is now a member of the Grammar Virtuosi and Symphony Orchestra at Auckland Grammar School. Daniel began learning piano at the age of five under Chin Yeh, and has also taken lessons from Katherine Austin. He has received numerous awards, including the Distinction Award in the 2024 Ara Lodge Music Competition and the Overall Winner Award in 2025. He continues to pursue music with passion and dedication.
Henry Wang
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2 No. 3 — I. Allegro con brio
Ludwig Treviranus: Motions in Time
Liszt: Rigoletto Concert Paraphrase
Ligeti: Études pour piano — No. 10, Der Zauberlehrling
Henry Wang, 15 years old, is a Year 11 student at King’s College. Henry is a passionate musician, having started piano at the age of five, and is currently studying with Matteo Napoli. He has achieved numerous local, national, and international accolades, including winning the Lewis Eady Junior Pianist Award (2022), first place at the Asia International Piano Grand Prix, the 12th Hong Kong International Piano Competition, the APMA Music Festival, the ANZCA Music Festival, and the Samson François Piano Competition in Nice, France (2024). In 2025, he was also invited to perform as a piano soloist with the Eurigio Orchestra in Aachen, Germany.
William Xu
Clementi: Piano Sonata in F-sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 5
Leonie Holmes: The Sound of Feeling
Ravel: Jeux d’eau
Chopin: Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39
William Xu is a Year 11 student at Saint Kentigern College and a dedicated young musician who has studied piano for over ten years. Guided by Stephen De Pledge, Rae De Lisle, and Jian Liu, he has developed strong technical skill and musical depth, further enriched through masterclasses with renowned international pianists. He also plays trumpet and cello and participates in his school’s symphony orchestra, concert band, and chamber music groups. A 2024 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition semi-finalist, he also competes in local competitions such as SAPACS, WAPACS, and NSPACS.
Leo Yang
Haydn: Piano Sonata in B Minor, Hob. XVI:32 — I. Allegro moderato
Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
Ravel: Alborada del gracioso
(Chenxiao) Leo Yang is a Year 9 student from Christchurch who is deeply passionate about the piano. Since starting at age five under Yi Sun and Lixin Zhang, his journey has been fuelled by a genuine love for music. Having earned his ATCL Diploma, Leo is now preparing for the LTCL. His path includes highlights such as being named “Most Promising Performer Under 18” in the Christchurch Competitions Society (2022, at age ten) and winning a 2025 NZ Chamber Music Adjudicator’s Award. From his first recital at age twelve, Leo’s goal has remained the same: to continually refine his artistry.
Ryan Yeh
Haydn: Piano Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52 — I. Allegro
Debussy: Étude No. 11 — Pour les arpeges composés
Salina Fisher: Raindrops on a Misty Pond (from Three Short Pieces)
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 14 — I. Allegro ma non troppo
Ryan Yeh is a 14-year-old pianist studying at Auckland Grammar School. He currently studies with Rae de Lisle and Bryan Sayer, and previously studied with Fei Tang and his mother, Chin Yeh. Over the years, Ryan has gained recognition both locally and internationally. At a young age, he won the Los Angeles International Piano Competition and the Gustav Mahler Piano Competition. He has also received awards at the Sydney Eisteddfod, the APPA Music Awards, and the NZ Gifted Awards. In addition to solo piano, Ryan is an active chamber musician and an accomplished cellist. In 2025, as a member of the Merimee Quartet, he was a national finalist in the Chamber Music New Zealand Competition, performing Carmen Fantasy for Eight Hands and receiving the June Clifford National Finalist Award. In July, Ryan will represent New Zealand in the Grand Final of the PRM Piano Competition in Vancouver.
Samuel Yuan
Mozart: Piano Sonata in D Major, K. 311 — I. Allegro con spirito
Chopin: Étude in G-flat Major, Op. 25 No. 9
Debussy: Étude — Pour les degrés chromatiques
Speak: Spider vs Spider (from Piano-scapes II)
Tchaikovsky: Dumka, Op. 59
Samuel Yuan studies piano with Emma Sayers and Richard Mapp, and violin with Kristina Zelinska. Samuel has had many successes in local competitions on both piano and violin. In 2025, he won both the Sonata Celebration and the Grade 7–8 recital class at IRMT Wellington events and placed second in violin. He has received the Florence Murray Most Promising Pianist Award (2024), the Selah Music Award (violin, 2025), and the Big Sing Accompanist Award (2025). In 2026, he was awarded a special scholarship for outstanding potential by the Lankhuyzen Whetu-Kairangi Trust. Samuel also enjoys fishing, painting, photography, languages, and social studies.
1st Reserve -
Jonathan Qiao
Scarlatti: Sonata in D Major, K. 177
Haydn: Piano Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI:33 — I. Allegro
Liszt: Les cloches de Genève
John Elmsly: Rerere
Jonathan Qiao is a Year 8 student at Northcross Intermediate School, currently studying piano under the guidance of Stephen De Pledge. He has achieved Gold Awards in the North Shore Piano Competition as well as in multiple other piano contests. In addition to piano, Jonathan also plays the tenor saxophone and has been awarded a school music scholarship for two consecutive years. With strong dedication and enthusiasm, he continues to develop his musical abilities across both instruments.
2nd Reserve -
Jacob Liu
Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816 — Allemande and Courante
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 9 in D Major, K. 311 — I. Allegro con spirito
Gareth Farr: The Horizon (from Owhiro Bay)
Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816 — VII. Gigue
Jacob Liu is a Year 9 student at Kristin School in Auckland. He currently studies under Mrs Catherine Shie and Dr Jian Liu, and earned the Trinity LTCL Piano Diploma with Distinction at age eleven. His achievements include the North Shore Performing Arts Most Promising Performance Cup, New Zealand Chamber Music Competition Regional Finalist, APPA/Ara Lodge Merit Prize, and a Gold Prize at the Pacific Rim International Music Festival. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and Auckland Town Hall. Jacob also plays violin, clarinet, and glockenspiel.
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2026 Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition
Presented by CLEF - Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation
Proudly supported by Lewis Eady Steinway NZ
CLEF sincerely wishes to thank the following individuals and organisations for their invaluable support and contributions.
Competition Team
John Eady, Organiser
Stephen De Pledge & Rae de Lisle, Creative Directors
Glen Easley, Piano Technician
Adrian Malloch, Photography
We also wish to thank;
David Chisholm, Head of Music, The University of Auckland
Lewis Eady Steinway NZ [Chiron Group]
Front of House
Our dedicated Volunteers
Our Donors
Prize Donors: Murray Jacobs, Bentley Auckland
Individuals who prefer to remain anonymous
The Competition reserves the right to vary artists or programmes without notice.
Latecomers will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.
Please turn off all digital devices and mobile phones before entering the concert hall.
It is strictly prohibited to take photographs, visual or audio recordings of any performance.