David Li (2024)

David Li is a third-year student at the University of Auckland, majoring in Classical Performance studying under Stephen De Pledge, as well as Information Systems. David was awarded the Swedlund Music Bursary Scholarship Award from the University of Auckland in 2021. David was also awarded 1st place in the IRMTNZ Scholarship Competitions in the DD O’Connor Instrumental and Piano Scholarship in 2021 and 2nd prize in the IRMTNZ Scholarship Competitions - Margaret Doone Sonata Competition in 2023. He has also received top three awards from other competitions such as the NSPAS. 

David is also a passionate chamber pianist and collaborative pianist. His piano-percussion quartet was awarded first prize at the 2023 University of Auckland Chamber Competition. David has been working with WE Classical Music and Maestro Music School since 2020 both as a private piano tutor and accompanist. 

Henry Meng (2022 - 2024)

Henry Meng has been playing the piano since an early age. He also composes, and is a student at the University of Auckland.

He was a finalist at the 2019 Wallace National Piano Competition and has attained numerous accolades across a variety of regional competitions in New Zealand.

He receives musical guidance from Rae de Lisle and Stephen De Pledge.

Madeleine Xiao (2023 -2024)

Madeleine Xiao began learning the piano at age five. At 16, she studied for a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland, where she is now a third-year student under the tutelage of Rae de Lisle, Bryan Sayer, and Katherine Austin. Madeleine has achieved numerous top awards as well as scholarships. She is a recipient of the Auckland Philharmonia Haydn Staples Piano Scholarship for 2023/2024, Dame Malvina Major Foundation Alice Cole Piano Scholarship, AIMES North Harbour Scholarship, and Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation Scholarship. At the University of Auckland, she was awarded the Swedlund Music Scholarship, Fehl Music Scholarship, Carl and Alberta Rosenfeldt Prize in Chamber Music, and the Constance Herbert Memorial Prize in Music. In 2022, Madeleine won the Auckland Youth Orchestra Piano Concerto Competition, where she received the opportunity to perform Ravel's Piano Concerto in G in a concert tour with the orchestra, including a final concert at the Auckland Town Hall. She also won the University of Auckland School of Music Concerto Competition as the youngest ever winner. In 2023, Madeleine was selected to attend the Adam Summer School in Nelson, working with the New Zealand String Quartet. She also played Chopin's Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey, winning third in the finale of the National Concerto Competition. In October, Madeleine was selected as an emerging artist in the At the World's Edge Festival. She had the opportunity to tour and perform alongside internationally renowned musicians and composers in many ensembles and events.  

Madeleine has also had the privilege to receive several masterclasses, some of which include Inon Barnatan, Steven Osborne, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Charles Owen, Douglas Humphreys, and Marta Zabaleta.

Alongside being a soloist, Madeleine is a passionate, collaborative musician with experience working with many chamber ensembles, choirs, orchestras, and musicians such as Ben Goldscheider, Zlatomir Fung, Tobias Breider, Justine Cormack, and several musicians from Auckland Philharmonia. Her chamber group, Kaha Trio, is an Auckland Philharmonia' Aspiring Musicians' Ensemble for the third year. They have been invited to perform across New Zealand, being regarded as one of the top up-and-coming young ensembles. Their coaches consist of pre-eminent musicians around the country, and they have also received guidance from established ensembles and international artists such as NZTrio, New Zealand String Quartet, New Zealand Chamber Soloists, Jordan Bak, Alice Neary, and Benjamin Baker.

Catherine Chang (2021 - 2023)

Catherine Chang is a third-year student at the University of Auckland, majoring in Classical Performance under Richard Liu. In 2020, she was awarded 2nd place and the ‘Best Performance of a Classical Sonata’ award at the New Zealand Junior Piano Competition. She received the ‘Best Performance of a NZ work’ in the recent Lewis Eady National Piano Competition this year. Other notable awards include the Piano Trader’s 20th and 21st Century IRMT Scholarship 2021, PACANZ Young Performer of the Year nominations and multiple prizes across NSPAS and SAPACS competitions. She was recently awarded Peoples' Choice Award and Runner-up for the 2022 National Young Performer of the Year award.

She has had performance opportunities across Auckland, including a performance of the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra last year, as part of the Haydn Staples Piano Programme. Recent chamber music projects include Dvorak’s Piano Quartet in D major Op. 23 with APO players.

She was also invited to give a full solo recital as part of the 2022 Lewis Eady Emerging Artists Series and was recently awarded the Janetta McStay Prize for Pianists from the University of Auckland.

Catherine has had masterclasses from Olli Mustonen, Natalia Ricci, Nigel Clayton, Niel Immelman, Ian Jones, Marta Zabaleta, Bryan Sayer, Dr. Rae de Lisle, Stephen de Pledge, Sylvia Jiang, Dr. Joong-Han Jung, Gillian Bibby, and Tom McGrath.

Catherine has been working at the Chiron Music Academy since 2021 – both as a piano teacher and collaborative pianist/ coach for instrumental masterclasses, concerts, and exams.

Catherine is in her third year as a Haydn Staples Piano scholar and was a past Chiron Senior Scholarship Holder (2020/2021).

Jessica Chi

Jessica Chi is a third-year student at the University of Auckland, studying with Sarah Watkins. She passed the Trinity College, London LTCL Diploma exam with high distinction and has gained several first and second places in the South Auckland and West Auckland piano competitions.

She was also selected to participate in the 2018 PACANZ National Young Performer competition and gained third place. Away from the piano, Jessica is also a part-time illustrator.

Shuan Liu

Shuan Liu is a first-year Classical Performance student at the University of Auckland, where she is studying under Rae de Lisle. 

Shuan started playing the piano at the age of six, and has achieved many awards and scholarships in local and national competitions throughout her career. Some highlights would be Margarat Doone Piano Sonata Scholarship, Norah Howell Piano Recital Award, Pacific International Music Competition for Youths and Wallace National Piano Competition.

Chamber music is of great interest to her too: last year, Shuan progressed to the finals of NZCT Chamber Music Contest with her group ‘Trio Achilles’ and won the Helen Young Diamond Award.

She is immensely grateful to be both a Chiron Senior Scholar and a Haydn Staples Scholar in 2021. Shuan is looking forward to the many opportunities available to expand her musical horizons.

Jiazhou Conroy Hu

Jiazhou Conroy Hu began his piano studies at the age of 8. He completed his Bachelor of Music at University of Auckland in 2022. Conroy is currently in New York completing his Master’s degree at Mannes School of Music.

Conroy studied under the tutelage of Rae de Lisle, having previously studied with Matteo Napoli. In between his studies, he makes time to transcribe music and compose his own works.  Conroy has performed his works in the Wallace National Piano Competition and his first solo concert in Nelson two years ago. 

Over the years, he has won various categories in local competitions throughout New Zealand. At Auckland Grammar, he received the Senior Minister’s plate twice, in 2014 and 2016, and was also awarded the Headmaster’s Performing Arts Scholarship in 2016.

Conroy has performed with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra in Kerikeri (2016) and has won the Tauranga Performing Arts Competition Society Major Award (2016). In the same year, Conroy was a finalist in the Wallace National Junior Piano Competition and received the Lions Club of Te Awamutu Scholarship.

Marianna Kang (2019 & 2020)

Marianna Kang studied at the University of Auckland, with Stephen De Pledge and Dr. Rae De Lisle. Originally from Hamilton, Marianna began learning the piano at the age of six years old. Ever since, her love for music has grown and she has actively performed at concerts and participated in competitions. She has won awards and scholarships at various competitions, such as the National Young Performer Awards (PACANZ) held in Palmerston North, and the Wallace National Piano Competition- in 2019 Marianna received the SOUNZ award for the best performed piece by a New Zealand composer. She was also selected as a semifinalist at the 2019 Christchurch National Concerto Competition. Marianna also finds great joy in chamber music and has attended the Adam Summer School for Chamber Music held in Nelson. There she received coaching from the New Zealand String Quartet, Diedre Irons and Jian Liu. As a Haydn Staples Piano scholar in both 2019 and 2020, Marianna enjoyed developing her knowledge and skills as a musician.

Soomin Kim (2019 & 2020)

Soomin Kim studied a BMus/ BCom conjoint degree at the University of Auckland where she majored in Classical Performance on piano and Accounting. Born in Korea, she began learning the instrument at the age of six and attended a conservatoire in Year 8. After a two-year break, she resumed her piano education when she moved to New Zealand in Year 11.

Her achievements include IRMT Margaret Doone Sonata Scholarship 2018 and Piano Trader 21st Century Scholarship 2017 in Auckland, first prize in Piano Programme class at Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions 2017, first in both Concerto and Composition classes at Rising Stars Competitions 2015, and her LTCL Recital in 2015. Since her entry to the University in 2017, she has been exposed to other areas of music such as Collaborative Piano and Conducting, and her particular interest in Early Keyboard led to her award of Anthony Jennings Memorial Prize in 2019 and the Anna Nathan Early Keyboard Prizes in 2018 at the University.

Modi Deng (2018 & 2020)

Modi Deng is a pianist from Dunedin, New Zealand. She completed a full Marsden research scholarship studying a Master of Music with Rae de Lisle and Stephen De Pledge at Auckland University, having earlier completed a Bachelor of English. In March 2018, she received first prize in the National Concerto Competition, performing Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 3 with Benjamin Northey and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Modi has performed concerti by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Clara Schumann with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, and collegiate orchestras. She has participated in masterclasses and lessons with artists such as Michael Houstoun, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Kathryn Stott, Stephen Hough, and Ian Jones. Her playing has been recorded for Radio NZ Concert and SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music.

An avid chamber musician, Modi’s trio toured the U.K. in July 2018 as the winner of the Pettman/ROSL Arts Chamber Music Arts scholarship. They performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Her trio also received the Auckland Chamber Music Society Prize last year.

Modi accepted a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she completed an Advanced Diploma in 2022. She has also received the Patricia Pratt Scholarship to support her in her studies in London.

“My highlight of 2022 was definitely performing a solo Messiaen Prelude and a Thomas Adès Quartet in Wigmore Hall with cellist Adrian Brendel, a memory to treasure!”

Frank Chen

Frank Chen was born in Auckland, New Zealand and started playing the piano from the age of eight, developing a love for the instrument from an early age.

Frank has recently completed his Masters Degree in classical performance at the University of Auckland. During his time at University, Frank has studied piano with Richard Liu, Stephen de Pledge and is now currently working with Rae de Lisle. Some of Frank’s musical highlights include competing in many competitions such as, the 50th & 51st Christchurch concerto competitions, Margaret Donne sonata competition, the NSPAS competitions and the National Wallace competition. Over time, Frank has developed interest in Chamber music and performing as an accompanist, which is something he is looking to pursue in future.

His musical goals are based around performing.  He is now teaching music, to share his passion for music and help others.

Sara Lee

Sara began her piano studies at the age of six in South Korea and studied for several years with Soo Jung Shin, winning several regional competitions including Dong-A Piano Competition and the Jung ang il bo competition. She moved to Moscow to study piano with Sergei Dorensky and Mikhail Voskresensky at the Tchaikovsky Music School in Moscow and won many awards from the school including its Outstanding Performance Award.

She has since been a prize winner in international and national competitions including the USA Cincinnati World Piano Competition, grand prize (2003); Citta di Barletta in Italy, first prize (2005); Austria International Chopin Piano Competition, second prize and best performance prize (2010); Moscow Young Pianist Competition (2012), and the Lyon International Piano Competition (2012). She won the University of Auckland Graduation Gala Concerto Competition in 2017 and has played concerts in world renowned halls such as Carnegie Hall (USA), the Rachmaninoff Hall of Moscow Conservatory, the Wiener Saal of Mozarteum (Austria), Konzertsal Handel Karee Haus (Germany), and Lyon Conservatory Hall (France). She has participated in masterclass with acclaimed pianists such as Dimitri Bashkirov, Andrej Jasinski, Pavel Gililov, Boris Giltburg. Currently she is studying at the University of Auckland with Rae de Lisle and Stephen de Pledge.

Siyu Sun

Siyu Sun is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Professors Ronan O'Hora and Carole Presland. She previously studied in New Zealand under the tutelage of Associate Professor Rae de Lisle.

Siyu has appeared as soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Wellington Chamber Orchestra. She has won numerous competitions, including the 2021 Guildhall Romantic Prize in London, Auckland Chamber Music Society Prize, and National Concerto 50th Anniversary Competition performing Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

She was recently awarded second prize in the 2021 Bromsgrove International Piano Competition, second prize in the Wallace National Piano Competition, and fourth prize in the Lev Vlassenko International Competition. Siyu has performed in venues throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, St. James Church Piccadilly, Milton Court Concert Hall, Auckland Town Hall, and Queensland Conservatorium Hall.

Siyu is generously supported by the Guildhall School Trust, Patricia Pratt and Kiwi Music Scholarship Trust, Inspire Foundation, Dame Malvina Major Foundation, Jack McGill Scholarship, and has been a Haydn Staples APO Piano scholar. She holds prizes including the Best New Zealand Pianist Prize, Virtuoso Prize, and Blues Award for most Meritorious Performance in the Arts and Culture.

Also a passionate chamber musician, Siyu’s piano quartet was the first prize winner of the Auckland Chamber Music Society Prize, and a finalist in the Pettmann/Royal Over-Seas League Chamber Music Scholarship. Siyu has performed in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra on both French horn and orchestral piano.