Steinway Scholarship
When Steinway approached me 5(!) years ago about establishing a scholarship at Xinghai Middle School, I responded, "Get in line." Okay, I'm exaggerating but I did convey that we already have scholarships from Yamaha, Parsons, and Pearl River and if Steinway were to establish a 4th scholarship it should be unique and befitting the brand. I then suggested why not make it primarily chamber music oriented, after all, instrumentalists were also future customers. Okay, again, I didn't say that last part but we all winked and twirled our mustaches. Lastly, I suggested that all the scholarship recipients should give a concert together at Guangzhou's professional performings arts venue and share their music with the general public. And so the Inaugural Steinway Scholarship Competition was held in December 2019 and then we all know what happened between 2020-2022. Fast forward to the second competition held in June of 2023 and I must say, all the scholarship recipients played beautifully and I very much enjoyed coaching all the chamber groups and soloists. We are even discussing how to bring in the composition department for the next edition because, after all, composers can also aspire to own a Steinway …
