Violinist Usha Kapoor and pianist Edward Leung have won the first Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition.
Performing works by Mozart, Adams and Saint-Saëns, Usha Kapoor, from Phoenix, Arizona, and Edward Leung, from New York, received £4,000, a commercial recording with Resonus Classics and professional engagements at Wigmore Hall, Winchester Chamber Music Festival, Ulverston International Music Festival and Chamber Circle, Brussels.
The Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition
The Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition was held as part of the inaugural Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Festival, which saw 14 concerts and 13 masterclasses take place at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire between Tuesday 20 and Friday 23 November 2018 – with the Competition Final live streamed by Classic FM.
With 40 entries from 11 countries received, eight young ensembles participated, each giving a public recital as well as taking part in masterclasses.
The jury comprised Resonus Classics founder, Adam Binks, pianists, Katya Apekisheva, Daniel Tong and John Thwaites, violinist, Michael Gurevich, violist, Robin Ireland, and cellists, Alice Neary and Christoph Richter.
About Usha Kapoor
Praised for her ‘confidence and bearing’, Indian-American violinist, Usha Kapoor, made her solo debut at the age of 17 with the Phoenix Symphony.
She has subsequently performed with the Culver City Chamber Orchestra, the Culver City Symphony Orchestra and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra among others.
About Edward Leung
Lauded as one of ‘16 Incredibly Impressive Students at Princeton University’ by Business Insider, pianist, Edward Leung, has performed in concert halls across the US, Europe and Asia.
He is currently pursuing his Master of Music at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Pascal Nemirovski.
‘Extremely well deserved’
Daniel Tong, Head of Piano Chamber Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said:
‘The jury was delighted that Usha and Edward won the competition and it was extremely well deserved. The music-making in the Festival generally was of an extraordinary standard, both from the young artists and the professional guests in the evenings.’
Header photo: Usha Kapoor and Edward Leung performing in the Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition Final © Doromir Tsenov
