NTD’s 7th International Piano Competition successfully came to an end Friday, in New York’s Kaufman Center, as five finalists presented their last two pieces.
As well as the chance to compete and showcase their skills throughout the competition, in the semifinals contestants had the opportunity to study, prepare, and play the special commissioned piece, “Holy Grace”—a piece which left a profound impression on some of the pianists.
The piece is originally a vocal work composed by D.F., the artistic director at Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Composer Qin Yuan, who rearranged the work, said she was impressed with the performances.
“What I originally wanted to express was a sense of love and hope. The contestants truly brought us love and hope, and I can feel that,” she said. “At the same time, the name of this piece is ‘Holy Grace.’ What I hope for is that, whether in good times or bad, we can all hold on to a heart full of gratitude—showing appreciation to those around us and to the Creator for all that He has given us.”
Contestants also shared their understanding through playing “Holy Grace.”
“Gods created us and sent us down to the mortal world, as if to attend a class. So this piece has a sense of beginning and end, with a connection between them. There are some waves in the middle part of the composition, possibly more grand and expansive moments, which represent the realizations we have in life,” said Ching-Yi Lin, a contestant from Taiwan.
One part of the piece left a deep impression on Tang Hsing Lien, also from Taiwan.
“We see the bass as a kind of bell tolling—isn’t it a form of judgment? God is judging, judging humanity,” he said.
Robert Neumann of Germany was born into a musical family, and both of his parents are musicians.
“[Holy Grace] closely connects nature and the perfect state of the human inner world,” he said.
Winners will be announced in a total of six award categories during the ceremony on Saturday evening.
