Four HONG KONG Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) students have outclassed their mainland counterparts to scoop top prizes at the Third Asian Youth Music Competition Finals.
The five-day piano extravaganza was co-organised by the Hong Kong Music Tutors Union and Parsons Music Foundation and hosted by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music from February 9 to 13.
HKAPA full-time degree student Crystal Lam Kai-yin was crowned champion in the under-26 age group, beating Jiang Zhihua from Xian and another HKAPA student, Zhao Ning.
The three other winners study music at the HKAPA part-time.
Wong Wai-yin, a student at St Mary's Canossian College, topped the under-20 group, while her younger sister Wai-yuen won both the under-14 group and the Bartok for Children Class. Aristo Sham Ching-toa of Diocesan Boys' School (Primary Division) snatched first prize in the Mozart Sonata Class.
A student of respected piano teacher Gabriel Kwok, Ms Lam said she did not expect to win as the standard of the mainland contestants was high.