Second-year student: Pianist Luu Hong Quang studying to be a Master of Performing Arts at Montreal Conservatory. — Photo acemusic.com.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Vietnamese pianist Luu Hong Quang won the second prize at the third Euregio Piano Awards in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

The international piano competition was held from July 23-26. The prize, also called the Euregio Piano Award, earned Quang 800 euros (US$880) and the first-place winner from Russia 1,200 euros.

The three best competitors will be awarded a Concerts Prize in Italy, offered by the Organisation of Accademia Musicale Romana.

The competition, open to those aged 18 to 35 years, had two rounds. In the first round, competitors selected one of the works by Chopin, Liszt, Skrjabin, Rachmaninow, Debussy or Saint-Saens, and one or more works of their choice to perform within a maximum period of 20 minutes.

Finalists could choose a sonata composed by Beethoven, Haydn or Mozart to perform in the second round, with a maximum time of 45 minutes.

Other prizes were awarded to different winners in specific age categories: up to 13 years; from 14 to 17 years; and 18 years upwards.

Born into a musical family, Quang began studying the piano at the age of 6. His father is accordionist Luu Quang Minh.

Quang junior graduated from the Australian International Conservatorium of Music under a full scholarship in 2012.

Since 2008, Quang has won awards in competitions in Australia, including winning a spot as a finalist for the Allison/Anderson Piano scholarship and winning the first prize in the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in Brisbane.

His orchestral credits include the Ha Noi Philharmonic Orchestra, the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra and the Florence Symphony Orchestra.

He received a full scholarship to participate and perform at the Kirishima International Music Festival in Japan, where he performed at the Asia Orchestra Week festival.

He is a second-year student at the Montreal Conservatory of Music, working towards a masters' in performing arts. — VNS