Focus on San Antonio

After winning Gold, Shanghai-based pianist Yung Yung Guo wrote: “I'm so honored to win the "Gold Medal" in The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition! It is my first time to come to America. The time difference of 14 hours was very difficult for me. I even thought I would not make it past the first round because the Schubert Piano Sonata D.960（the piece I chose in my first round repertoire）needs very precise control. But due to the jet lag problem, I felt I would not perform the 50 minutes piece well. Fortunately, after four days, the jet lag problem was much less. I really thank my teacher-Moye Chen, He taught me a lot not just music, but also how to adjust my state as an artist. He helped me a lot to overcome a lot of setbacks.

​I am very grateful that in January, I performed nearly six recitals in Shanghai, China, and gradually adapted to the high-intensity life as an artist. And thank you to my fans for always coming! I was so excited that my world can always have somebody to talk with (through music)!“

Born in Hong Kong, Yungyung Guo began her piano study at the age of four. After instruction from teachers Jia Xie and Meidan Guo, she graduated from the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She has been awarded the People’s Scholarship, the Shanghai Scholarship, and the Lily En-Teh New Scholarship. Yungyung has won multiple competitions, among them Third Prize at The Sydney last year.
Besides a number of performances abroad, Guo has performed at and renowned Chinese venues such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), the Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Concert Hall, Shangyin Opera House, He Luting Concert Hall, Hangzhou Grand Theater, Ningbo Concert Hall and Hongtai Concert Hall in Xiamen. Yungyung’s top prize at the (online) Manhattan International Competition led to a recording opportunity under the Orpheus label, with her album to be released soon. 

The Gurwitz, formerly known as the San Antonio International Piano Competition, was founded in 1983 by Dr. Richard Ferguson, Ruth Jean Gurwitz and a group of fellow music lovers. The inaugural Gurwitz piano competition took place in 2020.

Presented by the San Antonio-based nonprofit Musical Bridges Around the World, the competition happens here every four years, and each year is an opportunity for the event to not only grow but market San Antonio as a culturally rich community, placing the city on the global stage of music and culture.

Prizes:
1st Prize: Yungyung Guo (20), Shanghai
2nd Prize: Tatiana Dorokhova (32), Moscow
3rd Prize: Young Sun Choi (30), Seoul

Jury:
Scott Yoo (Chair), Tanja Dorn, Michael Fine, Sergio Tiempo, Mikhail Voskresensky, Lilya Zilberstein

Artists:
Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra / Scott Yoo ( Conductor )

©WFIMC2024