Anna Bray crowned 2023 Grand Prize Winner In MostArts Festival Young Pianist Competition
Sixteen-year-old Anna Bray from Sterling, VA is the 2023 Young Pianist Competition Grand Prize Winner, announced at the MostArts Festival Grand Finale Concert, Saturday, July 29, on the Alfred University campus.
Anna is a student at Trinity School at Meadowview and studies piano with Professor Alexander Shtarkman at Peabody Conservatory. Recently, the Chopin Foundation (USA) selected her to receive a scholarship.
The evening of the Grand Finale Concert began in Miller Theater with renowned Israeli born conductor, Yuval Zaliouk leading the International Festival Orchestra in Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus: Overture followed by a stunning performance of Alexander Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances. After intermission, Russian pianist Asiya Korepanova graced the stage with a breath-taking performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor.
The International jurors for the “Young Pianist Competition” included Asiya Korepanova, Lucy Mauro, and Anthony Pattin. As winner of the competition, Anna will receive a $10,000 cash prize, plus an opportunity to become a Young Steinway Artist, as well as an invitation to return to Alfred University for the opening Gala Concert at the MostArts Festival in July 2024. She also received Thursday evening’s Audience Favorite award for her captivating performance of the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21.
Sixteen-year-old Sophia Lin from Falls Church, VA took the $5000 second prize. The festival’s youngest competitor, 13-year-old Emily Qi of Sammamish, WA, was awarded third prize and $2500, as well as Friday evening’s Audience Favorite award for her beautiful performance of the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22.
In addition to these prizes, the Judges Discretionary Award of $1,500 went to 16-year-old Landon Fringer of Santa Monica, CA, for his brilliant solo recital performance of Ravel, and a Merit Certificate of $500 was awarded to 17-year-old Collin Parker Szekely of Abington, VA.
Lisa Lantz, professor of music at Alfred University and artistic director for the MostArts Festival, congratulated each of these exceptionally talented young pianists, saying, “They all contributed to the Magic at the 2023 MostArts Festival!”