New York: NTD’s 2009 Chinese International Piano Competition

Only a few months ago, the halls of the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in Midtown Manhattan reverberated with the sweet sounds of NTD’s vocal competition. Now the hall once again is filling with melody, filling with song, filling with music.

Welcome to NTD’s 2009 Chinese International Piano Competition. In just a few moments, contestants from all over the world will be joining us on stage to play on this very same piano some of the classics.

Three rounds of performances lay before these musicians. Today are the preliminaries and Mozart once again is setting the bar.  Contestants may choose to play the first movement of any Mozart Piano Sonata. Each interpretation of the great master is unique. Even the same piece can take on a different light at the fingertips of another.

The judges watch on as fingers dance across the keys, delighting the senses and dazzling the audience. But the journey here hasn’t been easy. Xiao Feng Wu, originally from Shanghai, is currently residing in New York City. Although he has garnered international renown, he shares with us his humble beginnings as a pianist.

[Xiao Feng Wu, Contestant]:
“It’s not my decision. My parents, they wanted me to learn and first off I gladly accepted it. But later on I know it’s not easy and it’s getting more and more difficult…but by that time, even with struggles, I enjoyed it most of the time.”

And the audience is enjoying it all of the time. The players make it look easy. But with a prize of ten thousand U.S. dollars awaiting the winner, one would think that some nerves would start to show. But for these musicians, it’s about so much more than money. Peggy Sung, a student at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, explains.

[Peggy Sung, Contestant]:
“Music of course can be an entertainment, but more important it can help us to think more about many things…maybe how to be a human being. Its not only competition, something that helps your soul grow.”

NTD’s series of competitions has aimed at renewing interest in traditional arts and culture. Even though Mozart’s music is over two hundred years old, it has never been merely relegated to dusty old tomes.

[Xiao Feng Wu, Contestant]:
“People are getting so serious and forgot Mozart was actually… maybe at his time Mozart was like Michael Jackson guy or like Chopin, Liszt. They could be the rock stars in their time. But so far today we only recognize classical music are so serious, but they forgot the playfulness in classical music, especially by Mozart.”

But the judges must have appreciated his playfulness, because Xiao, along with Peggy, made it through to the semifinals.

Day 2: The Semifinals

Welcome to the second day of the competition. Today, contestants will be playing a little Felix Mendelssohn, one of my personal favorites. Don’t want to be late.

It’s only a little bit of wood and metal. You press a key, and a hammer strikes a string, vibrating the air around it. It’s so simple, and yet the piano has captured the heart and imagination of people from every walk of life, captivated by its power to set the soul alight.

[Yung Jen Chen, Contestant]:
“I think it’s beyond language. I feel like I can say more with my music rather than just speak. It communicates with everybody, anywhere in the world. You don’t have to speak you can just play. It’s amazing.”

And nothing sums that up more than these Chinese speaking contestants performing in an English speaking country the works of German speaking composers.

After a day of dazzling performances, the finalists are announced.

Day 3: The Finals

Right now the finalists are putting on one last concert, after which the judges will announce the winners.

Only six contestants remain. Each is a master of their craft. Their performances are perfect. Their skill unmatched. And yet in only a few hours, one will stand above all the rest, trophy and check in hand.

For his final performance, Xiao Feng Wu chose Beethoven’s Sonata No.23 in F minor.

[Xiao Feng Wu]:
“This competition gives us the space to explore the spiritual feeling which is a very, very important part of music.“

At last, the final note is struck, and the award ceremony begins. Peggy Sung and Yung Jen Chen were honored with the Outstanding Performance Award. And the winner of NTD’s second annual 2009 Chinese International Piano Competition is none other than Xiao Feng Wu.

[Xiao Feng Wu]:
“Today I feel very fulfilled.”

Yeah, but how do his fingers feel?

[Xiao Feng Wu]:
Well, they feel very healthy. Haha, they’re fine.”

As Xiao gathers on stage with the other winners, NTD president Lee Zhong is there to hand Xiao the golden trophy and his check for ten thousand dollars. I bet you can buy a lot of pianos with that kind of cash.

[Xiao Feng Wu]:
“I am actually making a budget to buy a piano, a good piano, which would probably cost $30-40,000 to fit in my apartment.”

And so ends the second annual NTD Piano Competition.

This is Chris Chappell. See you again next time.

(NTDTV)