By Yang Zhenxiao

On the evening of 8th January local time, 2025 the 11th Bosendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition was closed in Arizona, USA. Ji Qinyaoyao, a 14-year-old Nantong girl, won the First Prize in the Yamaha Junior group with her excellent performance, and won ‘special award for the most outstanding performances of a composition by a Russian composer’. She also received the invitation to perform at the Alink-Argerich Foundation European Concert.

Bosendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition is one of the top piano competitions in the world. It was hosted by School of Music, Dance and Theatre of Arizona State University. The prizes include over 50,000 US dollars cash prizes and solo performance opportunities. In the international piano competition, 350 competitors from 33 countries (regions) participated.

Ji Qinyaoyao started piano lessons at the age of 3 in Nantong. She used to study under teachers including Shen Peihua and Lv Lufen. When she was 7 years old, she was admitted to Shanghai Conservatory of Music - Royal College of Music London Joint Institution as the youngest student to be admitted. Later she was admitted to Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, with the first place in the major. Now she is in grade three of Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, studying after Tang Zhe, a famous pianist and Professor of Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

German music media commented about Ji Qinyaoyao, ‘she not only has extraordinary technical skills, but also demonstrated profound and sensitive musicality. The rhythm and strong emotion of her playing perfectly matched the band, and expressed her innovative nature with great clarity and passion.’