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Gen Li wins third prize at Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition

Wed 14 March 2018

The talented Trinity Laban alumnus performed Prokofiev’s third piano concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recognised internationally, the prestigious piano competition is in its 14th year and sees exceptional concert pianists from across the globe compete for top cash prizes and performance engagements.

Whittled down from more than 150 applicants across four rounds, Gen Li joined five other international-prize-winning musicians in the final on Friday 2 March. Accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Li played Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 in C major Op.26.

The jury, chaired by international concert pianist and Hastings Festival Artistic Director Frank Wibaut, awarded the 27-year-old third prize, constituting £3,000 and ensuring future performance opportunities.

On making it to the final, Gen Li explained –

“I feel so proud and encouraged to stand alongside so many talented pianists as a Trinity Laban graduate.”

Li completed his MMus, Postgraduate Artist Diploma and Independent Study Programme (Advanced) at Trinity Laban under the guidance of Deniz Gelenbe, the former Head of Piano and Keyboard Instruments.

Commenting on his studies, Li continued –

“The support and level of training given to me by Trinity Laban enabled me to get to this stage of my performance career. I benefited from the access to great music facilities and classes, and I owe a lot to the extraordinary teaching of Trinity Laban piano professor Deniz Gelenbe. I look forward to being able to continue building on what I learnt at Trinity Laban to achieve even bigger goals in the future.”

In the qualifying rounds of the Hasting’s International Piano Concerto Competition Gen Li played Shostakovich’s 2nd piano concerto and Prokofiev’s 3rd piano concerto accompanied by his wife and fellow Trinity Laban graduate Lin Lin. This is not the first time the husband and wife piano-duo have performed together – Lin Lin also accompanied Li in the 2014 Trinity Laban Soloists’ Competition, which they went on to win.

Li commented –

“As the winner of the Trinity Laban Soloists’ Competition I got to perform with the Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. It is really a life changing opportunity and was a milestone in my musical career.”

Following this, Gen Li became the second Trinity Laban student to win the Jaques Samuel Intercollegiate Piano Competition in 2015. Other prizes include First Prize at Brant International Piano Competition and Eastbourne Soloists’ Competition, Second Prize at Santa Cecilia Piano Competition at Portugal, and Third Prize and Special Prize at Malta International Piano Competition.

Trinity Laban’s Piano and Keyboard Instruments Department is one of the world’s leading centres for piano study. To find out more, visit our keyboard pages.