Yamaha Artist Ching-Yun Hu Prevails At Concert Artists Guild 2009 International Competition

Ching-Yun Hu displays her medal
Yamaha artist Ching Yun Hu
NEW YORK CITY—Yamaha Pianist Ching-Yun Hu recently won the Concert Artists Guild 2009 International Competition, which concluded on October 23, 2009 in New York City. Hu joins other winners including vocal quintet Camus, cellist Sebastian Bäverstam and violinist Hye-Jin Kim.

Artist Services director James Steeber notes "We've seen Ching-Yun Hu's artistry grow so much, in the last five years. She came to YASI as a gifted participant of a masterclass and went on to conquer the competition stages of the world. I, for one, am proud to count her as a friend and as a Yamaha Artist."

As a prize winner, Hu received a management contract with Concert Artists Guild, as well as a New York recital engagement.

A native of Taiwan, Hu is the silver medalist (no first prize awarded) at the 2008 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, where she was also awarded the Audience Favorite Prize. Following her victory at the competition, she was immediately engaged by the Israel Philharmonic on short notice to step in for world-renowned pianist Helene Grimaud to perform the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Israel Philharmonic. Her performances of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 and Prokofiev Concerto No. 3 with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in the finale of the competition were broadcast live by the international classical music channel "Mezzo." The success of this award brought her to new heights in the classical music world. Recent engagements include the Wigmore Hall in London, Gewanthaus in Leipzig, Alice Tully Hall in New York, the Opera House in Tel Aviv; the Ruhr Festival in Germany and Chopin Festival in Poland. She has appeared with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Lodz Orchestra, the Taipei Philharmonic and a recital tour of the UK.

Concert Artists Guild is an internationally recognized arts service organization. Its mission is to "discover, nurture and promote young musicians." Founded in 1951, CAG offers artists a New York debut, which is a primary stepping-stone to a major career, establishing relationships with concert presenters and conductors and opening the door to commercial management. CAG's annual international competition identifies gifted artists, and the winners were presented in CAG's New York concert series.

Over 500 instrumentalists, singers and chamber ensembles have received career services from CAG. This list includes clarinetists David Krakauer and David Shifrin, flutists Marina Piccinini and Carol Wincenc, violinists Eugene Drucker and Judith Ingolfsson, pianist Barry Douglas, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, singers Martina Arroyo, Evelyn Lear and Shirley Verrett, the Alexander and Miami String Quartets, the Katona Twins Guitar Duo and the contemporary ensemble eighth blackbird.