International Franz Liszt Piano Competition Weimar Announces 2024 Winners

The 16-year-old Chinese pianist Zhonghua Wei has won first place with a €12,000 cash prize

Open to pianists of all nationalities up to the age of 31, the 11th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition Weimar held in Bayreuth, has now come to a close.

The first prize of €12,000 and the audience award went to the Chinese pianist Zhonghua Wei. Wei also won the special prize for the best interpretation of a song transcription by Liszt.

Second prize, worth €8,000 was awarded to the 25-year-old Taiwanese pianist Chia-Yang Hsu, and third prize endowed with €5,000, was awarded to the 27-year-old Viktoria Baskakova from Russia.

Hsu was additionally awarded the special prize for the best interpretation of a classical sonata, which will include a piano recital at the Steingraeber Haus, donated by the piano manufacturer Steingraeber & Söhne.

The prize for the best interpretation of a chamber music work was shared by Hsu and semifinalist Sébastien Somorjai-Pellet from France.

At the finals, the prize winners performed with the Staatskapelle Weimar and conductor Johannes Klumpp.

Chaired by Michail Lifits, the international jury included Michel Dalberto, Wolfgang Döberlein, Norma Fisher, Leslie Howard, Mariya Kim, Vivian Li, Boris Petrushansky, and Lilya Zilberstein.

“It was a pleasure to share the podium with [Wei], conducting Liszt’s 1st piano concerto,” Klumpp posted on Instagram. “He sparkled with musicality, musical joy and technical mastery. Congratulations! Wish you the best for your bright future! Congratulations also to the fantastic pianists and prizewinners Viktoria Baskakova and Chia-Yang Hsu!”

“A wonderful evening with such a great orchestra and conductor!” Wei commented. “Looking forward to more opportunities in the future.”