Aristo Sham

Program

Pianist Aristo Sham won the 2016 New York International Piano Competition at age 20. Born in Hong Kong and educated at Harrow School in England, he is currently completing his studies at Harvard University and New England Conservatory. He has already given concerts in China, Singapore, England, and the US, and his competition success in New York is only the most recent of such esteemed prizes. His programs range from music by Bach to contemporary composers, with a particular focus on repertoire from Chopin to Rachmaninoff.

PROGRAM:

HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
A Prole do bebé
Suite for Piano, Book 1, A. 140
     Branquinha (A boneca de louca; The Porcelain Doll)
     Moreninha (A boneca de massa; The Paper Doll)
     Caboclinha (A boneca de barro; The Clay Doll)
     Mulatinha (A boneca de borracha; The Rubber Doll)
     Negrinha (Boneca de trapo; The Wooden Doll)
     A pobrezinha (A boneca de trapo; The Rag Doll)
     O polichinelo (Punch)
     A bruxa (A boneca de pano; The Witch Doll)

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791)
Sonata in F Major, K. 533/494
     Allegro
     Andante
     Rondo: Allegretto

INTERMISSION

LOWELL LIEBERMANN (b. 1961)
Two Impromptus, Op. 131
     Commissioned by The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation for the 2016 New York International Piano competition.

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17
     Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen
     Mäβig: Durchaus energisch
     Langsam getragen: Durchweg leise zu halten

About the Artist

Aristo Sham, pianist, born in 1996 in Hong Kong, became the First Prize Winner of The Eighth New York International Piano Competition in June 2016, a biennial event presented under the auspices of The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation. Aristo was also the Prize Winner for Best Performance of the Required Contemporary Work, Two Impromptus, by Lowell Liebermann.   In addition to his cash prizes, he was awarded a recital at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., as well as additional appearances on the Young Artists Series, a program of concerts presented by The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation in collaboration with venues throughout New York, Connecticut, and Washington, DC.

Aristo Sham was first introduced to the piano at age three, and joined the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts at the age of six under the tutelage of Professor Eleanor Wong. He was a student at Harrow School in the UK, where he worked with Professor Colin Stone, and is currently pursuing BA/MMus degrees as a joint program at Harvard University and New England Conservatory, studying with Professor Victor Rosenbaum.

Having given concerts on five continents in countries ranging from Singapore and Argentina to Slovenia and Morocco, Aristo has played for Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of York, and the Queen of Belgium and President Hu of China on their respective visits to Hong Kong. He has also appeared as soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City and the Minnesota Orchestra.

Aristo has won a number of international prizes, including First Prize and the Barenreiter Urtext Special Prize in the 10th Ettlingen International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Germany in 2006, First Prize in the Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition in 2008, First Prize and two special prizes in the Minnesota International Junior Piano-Competition in 2011, and First Prize in the inaugural Viseu International Piano Competition in Portugal in 2015, First Prize in the Wideman International Piano Competition in 2015, First Prize in the PianoArts Competition in Milwaukee in 2016. 

Aristo Sham was featured in the documentary ‘The World’s Greatest Musical Prodigies’, broadcast by Channel 4 in the UK, and was awarded a Fellowship with distinction in Piano Performance of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) in 2011.

Watch & Listen