Twenty-year-old pianist Reuben Tsang has won First Prize in the 2024 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in its 25th anniversary year.

Reuben Tsang winning the 2024 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. Photo supplied

Competing at the Grand Finals in Brisbane on 13 July and performing Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 2 with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under conductor Benjamin Northey, Tsang walked away with a prize of $30,000, and a future concerto engagement with the orchestra.

Tsang was also awarded the $4,000 People’s Choice Prize and the $1,000 Best Recital minor prize. Joshua Han received Second Prize ($15,000) and the Concerto Prize ($5,000), and Samuel Choi won Third Prize ($5,000).

This year’s Grand Finals jury comprises Barry Douglas, Etsuko Terada, Jania Aubakirova, Jerry Wong and Kirill Monorosi.

Queensland-born Tsang was the second-youngest competitor in the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition, and placed as one of 12 semifinalists. He was awarded the Nancy Weir Prize, the Encouragement Award, and the Medal for the Most Promising Competitor.

He was also a finalist in the 2021 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition and was awarded Best...