Four Sydney Conservatorium of Music students battled it out for the Sydney Eisteddfod Kawai Piano Scholarship on Friday, with Chatwood’s Leanne Yang Jin coming out on top. As well as the $10,000 scholarship, Jin receives a $2000 cash prize, which past winners have used to enable their studies abroad.

Leanne Yang Jin

“As a pianist I can give full flight to my imagination in exploring this vast canvas of tone and colour!” she remarked.

The pianist secured her win with her performance of Schumann’s Kreisleriana, described by adjudicator Vivan Choi as “coming from the soul”. Currently completing a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, she took home first prize in the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in Brisbane this July.

Along with fellow finalist Nicholas Kennedy, Jin has been invited to compete in the Fine Music Young Virtuoso Award State Final, held in October. Their fellow finalists in the Sydney Eisteddfod were Calvin Abdiel and Jake Cheong.

Alexander Yau, winner of the 2018 Piano Scholarship, is currently using it to fund his studies at New York’s Juillard School. “I wish the finalists of 2019 Sydney Eisteddfod Piano...