Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham Ching-tao has won the 2025 edition of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, putting him on track for global stardom.
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Sham, 29, is the first pianist from Hong Kong to win the competition, held in Fort Worth in the US state of Texas.
The announcement on June 7 of his victory followed two-and-a-half weeks of intense anticipation as music lovers around the world followed live streams of the contest’s four gruelling rounds, which began on May 21 with 28 competitors from 15 countries.
After Sham’s name was read out by jury chairman Paul Lewis to loud cheers in the packed Bass Performance Hall, the winner stepped onto the stage wearing a bow tie and a huge smile to receive his gold medal and trophy.
The silver medal went to Vitaly Starikov of Israel and Russia, and the bronze to Evren Ozel of the United States.
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Sham started on the piano at the age of three with his piano teacher mother at home in Hong Kong and began competing internationally at the age of 10 while attending the Diocesan Boys’ School and studying under Shirley Ip and Professor Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.