Pianist Avan Yu Announces Sydney And Melbourne Recitals

Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia is pleased to announce the 2012 competition winner, Avan Yu, will perform two exclusive recitals in Sydney and Melbourne this June and July.

The program will include Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major K. 576, Ravel's Le tombeau de Couperin, Liszt's Sonetto 123 and 104 del Petrarca S. 161, and Sonata in B minor S. 178.

One of Canada's most exciting young pianists, Yu won his first national piano competition, the Cana dian Music Competition, at the age of 13. Four years late r, Yu became the youngest competitor ever to win the Canadian Chopin Competition. In 2012, he won the Sydney International Piano Competition as well as taking home nine additional awards. Yu was first noticed by Pinchas Zukerman and Bramwell Tovey who invited him to perform with their respective orchestras, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Vancouver Symphony.

Since then, Yu has appeared with conductors and musicians such as Yo - Yo Ma, Rafael Fruehbeck de Burgos, Christian Arming, Juanjo Mena and Johannes Moser. Yu's teachers include Klaus Hellwig, Horacio Gutierrez, Kenneth Broadway, Ralph Markham and Kut Kau Sum. He has obtained Diplom and Konzertexamen degrees at the Berlin Univers ity of the Arts in Germany, and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts at the Manhattan School of Music. Yu has performed extensively throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Salle Cortot in Paris and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Artistic Director for the Sydney International Piano Competition, Piers Lane AO said, " I am delighted that Avan Yu, the illustrious Canadian winner of the 2012 Sydney International Piano Competition, continues to return regularly to Australia where he has a devoted following. Not surprisingly ! He's a real communicator with a poetic sensibility and the pianistic ease to express all he feels. You'll enjoy. "

Avan Y u - Sydney Recital When : 7 : 30pm on Saturday, 30 June Location : Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music - 1 Conservatorium Road, Sydney Tickets : Adults $ 55, Concession $ 49, Students $ 25 - from http://www.sydneypianocompetition.com.au. Duration : 110 minutes ( including interval )

Avan Yu - Melbourne Recital When : 7 : 30pm on Thursday, 26 July Location : Camberwell Grammar School - 55 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury Tickets : Adults $ 50, C oncession $ 40, Students $ 25 - from http://www.syd neypianocompetition.com.au Duration : 110 minutes (including interval)