Pianist of the Year 2025 Grand Final

The Pianist of the Year 2025 Finals came to a successful close on Tuesday evening in the school theatre. This year, twenty-two contestants from Nursery to the Lower Sixth brought courage beyond their age and a pure love of music to the stage, giving this winter night a memorable warmth. A total of eighty-six pupils across the school registered for the initial rounds, and every child who reached the grand final stood out through multiple stages of selection. Their achievement represents far more than technical recognition—it reflects their reverence for music, their perseverance and their boundless imagination.

The competition was once again divided into four categories: Young Pianists, Intermediate Pianists, Rising Stars and Advanced Pianists. These groups not only mark different stages of musical growth but also represent the varying perspectives along a musician's journey. This year saw the first appearance of contestants from Reception; their young yet focused presence brought a meaningful reminder to the stage: the starting point of music is never defined by age, but illuminated by passion.

Nursery Pupils

To ensure the professionalism of the event, the school invited Hao Bo, a resident pianist with the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, to serve as an adjudicator. With the standards of a professional ensemble, he evaluated tone, rhythm, stylistic interpretation and overall musicality, offering each contestant highly constructive and insightful feedback. His presence enabled pupils to experience the atmosphere of a genuine professional stage, while his comments broadened their artistic horizons far beyond the competition itself.

What truly ignited the atmosphere, however, was the remarkable overall elevation in repertoire this year. Whether in technical difficulty or depth of interpretation, the maturity shown by the pupils far surpassed typical expectations for their age. Their performances were no longer mere 'playing of notes', but personal musical narratives told through their own voices.

Mia, a Grade 1 pupil, chose Sonatina Op.20 No.1, a structurally rigorous classical work that poses significant challenges for younger players. She brought an astonishing clarity and sense of order to the piece in her fresh interpretation.

Kitty took on Chopin's Etude No.14 Op.25, renowned for its virtuosic demands in speed, strength and fluidity. Her performance resembled a cascade of rapid yet precise sparks, bursting with Chopin's characteristic romance and fire.

Alyssa, in Grade 5, selected Tarantelle No.6 Op.77, a piece famous for its rapid tempo and large leaps, demanding exceptional stamina and control.

The evening reached one of its most breath-holding moments with Parry in Year 8, who performed Barcarolle No.1 Op.26 in A minor, a piece considered a formidable challenge even for advanced pianists. The gentle rocking rhythm, the intricate phrasing, and the high technical demands were woven together into a richly textured musical portrait.

Among all outstanding performances, Parry once again distinguished himself with a calm, refined and deeply expressive performance, earning the championship title for the second consecutive year. This marks not only another well-deserved victory but also a compelling milestone in his personal musical journey. Both adjudicator and audience agreed that the power of his Barcarolle lay not merely in its technical mastery, but in his ability to ‘tell’ the music; this expression comes from within and touches others. In this sense, Parry is not only the winner on stage but also the most steadfast companion on his own artistic path.

Through their performances, the twenty-two contestants brought to life the depth and direction of the Wellington music education programme. Every note played was not accidental, but the result of countless hours of practice, of self-discipline and of continual refinement. Their performances remind us that the value of music education is never about competition, but about the perseverance, reflection, expression and inner strength that pupils gain through music.

Although the competition has drawn to a close, the pupils' steps along their musical journey will not pause. Music is not about comparison—it is about growth. It is not the end of a stage, but the beginning of a wider voyage. It is these moments illuminated by music that shape the most moving landscape of music education at Wellington College Education (China) – Hangzhou.