Young Musician of the Year 2023
This is the 3rd year that DHSZ has this competition. This competition is slowly establishing as a school tradition to celebrate and showcase the musical talents we have amongst our students, particularly those who love to play western classical music or traditional Chinese music.
This year, the first round was held during House Spirit Week. There were 18 students who participated, featuring mainly vocalists and pianists. They were judged according to their instrumental technical proficiency, their musical interpretation, their control of tone production, and their stage presence.
Teachers and students came to the support their finalists with an expectation of good performances, which they were duly treated too. The 3 of the 5 finalists were previous winners and finalists in the last two editions of the competition, so you know that the competition is stiff.
This year’s finalists were all pianists but one. The pianists showed very different musical styles, varying from the late Classical feel of Beethoven to an impressionistic style of Debussy and of the Chinese composer Wanghua Chu, Their fingers moved with such precision and dexterity to match the musical challenges in the pieces, yet still able to express the sentiments as the music required. Year 11 student Jake Z is a first time participant and played the feisty third movement of Beethoven’s “pathetique” sonata with fluency. Another student, Year 13 Ray W, brought a calming mood with his rendition of Debussy’s famed “Claire de lune”, musically illustrating the peaceful moonlight as the title depicts. The last piano contestant, Alex Z, also Year 13, played something closer to home with the piece, "Spring River Boat Shadows"，a piece that is of the composer’s musical reflection of his experience on a lake. The last finalist is Year 12 student Mia D, who was the winner of the 2021 edition of this competition. Her playing on the guzheng is polished, displaying her ease of expressing herself on the instrument through the piece "Poem of Settling the Wind and Waves", a piece written by her guzheng teacher.
Unlike previous year where a champion is chosen from one per year, they were chosen solely on performance regardless of their year level. This year’s winner is Alex Z. This win is testimony of his hardwork as he prepares various repertoire for his upcoming auditions into conservatories. Alex had already spent a year working on various virtuosic pieces like Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, including this chinese piece. For him, while the win is important, the process is as crucial as he treads in the direction of a professional performer. The preparation helps him to see the mental and technical capacity he needs to do well in the future.
Alex Z（Y13）
"Receiving the 1st prize for Young Musician of the Year is an incredible honor, and I want to express my gratitude to my school leaders, teachers, and classmates who have been unwavering supporters throughout my musical journey.
This award is not just a personal achievement but a culmination of years of dedicated hard work. A heartfelt thank you goes to my music teachers, whose guidance has been instrumental in shaping and refining my musical abilities. Without their support, reaching this milestone wouldn't have been possible.
In the realm of music, each note carries its own unique meaning, and every composition holds profound emotions. My chosen piece, 'Spring River Boat Shadows' is a work that resonates deeply with me. It transports me to the beauty of Dongting Lake and the tranquility of nature, providing a means to express my emotions through music. With this performance, I aim to share my musical journey, conveying my love for life and my pursuit of beauty.
I want to extend my gratitude once again to the school and everyone who has supported me. Your trust and encouragement mean the world to me. I am committed to continuing my hard work, living up to this honor, and sharing my sincerity and passion for music with all."
The competition hopes to display students like Ray and Jake, who regard music only as a hobby, a means of relaxation. Yet it does not mean to expect any less but to desire to develop more musically so that they can enjoy more. For those aspiring to become professional musicians, this would be a good opportunity to play in front of an audience.
The competition is also an opportunity to invite a professional musician in Suzhou to join the judging panel and for them to interact with students, especially those who want to become professional musicians in the future. This year we invited Suzhou Symphony Orchestra’s cellist Zhang Pingping to grace this occasion. We hope for more of such opportuniites in the future.
Looking forward to seeing everyone continuously improve on their musical journey and continue to compose beautiful melodies.