The 2015 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition in New York City has chosen only 8 semi-finalists from all over the world to compete for a chance at prizes and a New York debut in Merkin Hall.
Matthew Liu and Alicia Spooner, both students of Jung Spooner, have been chosen to compete with six other aspiring pianists on June 19, 2015 in New York. Please come hear their shared recital, featuring works by Bach, Liszt, Chopin, Grieg, Haydn, Mozart, Berkovich, Auerbach, and Rimsky-Korsakov/Rachmaninoff.
Matthew Yuheng Liu, 8 years old, has been studying the piano since the age of 5 under Jung Spooner. Matthew was the winner of his division in the 2014 Kansas piano auditions and has performed all over the state in honors recitals and showcases in Kansas City, Lawrence, and Wichita. Matthew is looking forward to competing at the prestigious Kaufman International Youth Piano Competition in NYC. He was one out of eight contestants chosen around the world in the 7-9 age division. Apart from piano, Matthew was the state winner of the 2014 USA Math Kangaroo competition and is a proud Jayhawk, and enjoys sports, reading, and science.
Alicia Myong-Ha Spooner, 9 years old has been playing the piano for four years under the tutelage of her mother, Jung Spooner. In addition, she has coachings with her father, the concert pianist, Steven Spooner. Recently, Alicia was selected to compete in the Kaufman International Youth Piano Competition. This prestigious event will take place June, 2015 in NYC. Alicia was one of eight pianists selected in the 7-9 age division. In addition, Alicia is the two-time state piano champion in her division in Kansas and has performed all over the state in honors recitals and showcases in Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, and Topeka. She is a featured piano student on the internet show, A Life of Music. Aside from piano, Alicia loves to read, play chess, and spending time with her friends.
Learn more about the Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition: kaufmanmusiccenter.org.
