A chance for amateur pianists to showcase their talent

Singapore

THE sixth edition of the Steinway Youth Piano Competition (SYPC) in Singapore will feature a new category for pianists aged 35 and above within the Amateur Class.

Called "Youth-at-Heart", this category is open to those whose main source of income is not due to playing the piano, but who enjoy playing the instrument and for the opportunity to be recognised for their technical and musical abilities.

The SYPC, first launched in 2012, focuses primarily on young musicians aged 17 and below and comprises 2 classes.

The first is the Professional Class, where the winner will represent Singapore in the regional finals where he or she will compete for the honour of representing South-east Asia as a performer at the International Steinway Festival.

The second is the Amateur Class, for students who enjoy playing the piano for leisure but also wish to be formally recognised for their progress on their musical journeys.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 2 pm

Lifestyle

Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.

Sign Up

In 2020, the competition was held entirely online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, the event attracted a total of 152 participants in both classes.

Celine Goh, general manager of Steinway Gallery Singapore and chair of the SYPC organising committee, said: "Over the years, we have noticed there are many adults who are working in various professions, but are themselves great music lovers and wonderful amateur pianists."

She added that there are not many opportunities for these amateurs to showcase their talent and their love for the piano and music, which was what prompted the creation of a special category for those 35 and older.

"We hope that this category will encourage those who love playing the piano to continue to do so despite their work schedules. This group of music lovers and amateur pianists are an important group for they form a core audience for music and are a vital part of the scene," said Goh.

"Of equal importance is that it has long been recognised that music making contributes greatly to our mental, emotional and physical well-being. We want this category to remind ourselves that we are all youths and young at heart."

This year's SYPC will also have some new features such as masterclasses and a panel discussion that aims to help students prepare for a competition, as well as piano pedagogy in general.

The judges for the competition include well-known pianists and educators such as Steinway artist Benjamin Loh, Lena Ching, Albert Tiu, Lim Yan and Kseniia Vokhmianina.

SYPC 2022 will begin with the taped auditions, with the heats for both classes to be held in March. The grand finals for the Professional and Amateur Classes will be held on June 18 and June 19 respectively.

• More information and registration details can be found at https://www.steinway-gallery.com.sg/6th-sypc/