Six winners emerged from the finals of The Princeton Festival’s seventh annual piano competition for young musicians on at Clark Music Center in Lawrenceville June 15.
One hundred fifteen young artists competed in the preliminary rounds in six age categories, each playing one selection from a group of three pieces for each category.
Adjudicators Svetlana Smolina, a concert pianist, and J.Y.Song, a Mannes College professor, chose three pianists in each category to compete in the final round.
Lawrenceville resident Asher Severini took home first prize in the Open Class category, for pianist under 25 years old. Severini began formal training at the age eight. He studied piano and theory at New England Conservatory, and participated in concerts of music by Steve Reich, Elliott Carter, and Katie Agoc in Jordan Hall as an undergraduate.
He also won the Richard Tang Yuk Award for Most Outstanding Performer.
Pennington resident Brandon Li won the Junior Artists category for ages 13 to15. Li goes to Timberlane Middle School where he participates in the choir and orchestra.
Other winners include Moorestown resident John Kim in the Elementary Artists category, Andy Wu of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., in the Intermediate Artists category, Lia Chen of Ringoes in the Senior Artists category, and James and Elizabeth Yang in the Four-hands category.
More information is online at princetonfestival.org.
Princeton Festival Piano Contest winners James Yang, Elizabeth Yang (Skillman), Asher Severini (Lawrenceville), Andy Wu (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.), Brandon Li (Pennington), John Kim (Moorestown) and Lia Chen (Ringoes).,
