HÀ NỘI — Amateur Nguyễn Đức Kiên beat 13 other contestants in the 7-9 year-old category at the Thailand 6th Mozart International Piano Competition to win first prize.

Kiên, eight years old from Hà Nội, is the smallest contestant in the group. He skilfully played the complete Sonata KV545 by Mozart at the final round to convince the jury panel.

His performances received many compliments from the jury, such as bringing a musical breath of fresh air, as well as satisfying the high requirements of difficult piano techniques.

“The Sonata is suited for adult players and requires a profound understanding and complicated performing technique,” said Kiên’s piano teacher Dr Nguyễn Huy Phương.

“In the first round the contestants are asked to perform pieces that are almost easy. However, many contestants showed their weak points by the time they had finished their performance. In the final round I believed strongly that Kiên would win the top prize.”

According to Dr Phương, the competition required higher qualifications and more complicated skills than other piano contests. In the final round, all the contestants had to play a three movement sonata by Mozart.

This is difficult not just because of their length, but also the required techniques that young pianists need to perform each movement.

Kiên has been studying piano for several years at the Hoàng Cung Art Centre while he waits to be old enough to enter the Việt Nam National Academy of Music (VNAM). He has won first prizes at festivals held by VNAM in 2015-16.

Beside Kiên, three other contestants of VNAM also won prizes at the Thailand competition. In the 7-9 year-old category Trần Gia Quang was placed third. Trịnh Bảo Như and Nguyễn Ngô Tuệ, both ten years old, won the second and third prizes, respectively, in the 10-12 year-old category.

The Thailand 6th Mozart International Piano Competition 2016 was organised in Bangkok from July 23 to 27. It was divided into four-age group categories from 7 to 24 years of age.

The competition drew contestants from many countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

In the final round, all candidates had to compete in two sections and perform a complete work, movement or variation of a concerto or sonata by Mozart.

Previously, Quách Hoàng Nhi and Đặng Thái Vũ took first and second prizes, respectively, in the 7-9 year-old category at the same contest in 2013. In 2014, Nguyễn Bá Duy Anh won third prize in the 13-17 year-old category. — VNS