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| Jacky Zhang at BBC Younger Musician in 2024 |
In 2024 at simply 16 years outdated, pianist Jacky Zhang reached the ultimate levels of BBC Younger Musician with a efficiency of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 described by judges as an “extremely highly effective, volcanic interpretation”.
Now 17, Zhang has been named winner of the 2026 Sheepdrove Piano Competitors at Newbury Spring Pageant, turning into the youngest winner within the competitors’s 17-year historical past.
Zhang was awarded the First Prize of £3,000, donated by the Sheepdrove Belief, following the ultimate of the competitors held as a part of this 12 months’s Pageant programme. As a part of the prize, Zhang additionally gave a recital at Newbury Corn Trade on Monday 18 Could as a part of the Pageant’s Younger Artist Lunchtime Collection.
The Second Prize was awarded to Nicole Wu from Canada, a pupil at Guildhall Faculty of Music and Drama, whereas Third Prize went to Mayuko Narutani from Japan, a pupil on the Royal Academy of Music. Fourth Prize was awarded to Tomos Boyles from Wales, who additionally obtained the Viewers Prize.
Established in 2009 by the Sheepdrove Belief, the Sheepdrove Piano Competitors is open to pianists aged 26 and underneath from the UK’s main conservatoires and varieties a part of Newbury Spring Pageant’s longstanding dedication to supporting rising artists and younger performers.
Born within the UK in 2008, Zhang studied within the Royal School of Music Junior Division from the age of seven and now research with famend pianist Dmitri Alexeev. Alongside his piano work, he’s additionally lively as a composer, songwriter and producer, with pursuits spanning conducting, historic efficiency and music for display screen.
Newbury Spring Pageant continues till 2 Could, full particulars from the competition web site.
