The 6th Steinway Youth Piano Competition: a global competition, with hundreds participating worldwide in the hopes of representing their country in regional, and international, meetups, ending in a grand performance in Hamburg, Germany. And two of our classmates have enrolled in the Heats: Yong Jian and Yong Kang. Today, I decided to interview the twins, to ask them some questions regarding this competition.

Yong Jian

If you were to win this competition, who would you thank the most?

If I were to win this competition, I would want to thank my parents the most. They've provided me with financial and emotional support to push me through all these years of hard work and practice. Another person I would like to thank is my piano teacher, for being patient and guiding me through my years of piano learning.

How did you prepare for this competition?

Firstly, I listened to my teacher’s comments. Once I was done, I would record myself and listen to the recording to hopefully find areas for improvement while adjusting my own playing. Usually I spend an average of 30 minutes per day, and a week before the competition, I tried to increase my practice.

What did you like about the piano that you played on?

Well, one thing I liked about the piano I played on was that it was easily controllable, and the touch of the keys and the pedal was familiar, as that was the similar type of piano that I have been practicing with at home. I also found it easier to play the desired tone.

Yong Kang

What are your views towards the competition?

I think that this competition may sound like a high-level competition, but there are much harder competitions out there. However, there are people in this competition whom are much better than me, and I am in this competition mainly for exposure.

What motivated you to join this competition alongside your brother, and has it changed after the heats?

I wanted to improve myself further after three failed competitions, one of which was overseas, and to increase my exposure to music, alongside other reasons.

How would you react if your brother were to win the heats?

If he won the heats and I did not, it would be perfectly fine to me as it was not my fault. Additionally, I have gotten my fair share of achievements that he did not, such as the scholarship that I had received earlier on.

As the competition is but in the heats, and the results are not yet available to us, the progression of our twins is unknown to us. However, after this interview, we hope for their success in the heats of the Steinway Youth competition, and for further success in future piano endeavours.