Tasmanian pianist Sheng-Yuan Lynch has won first prize in the 2026 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, taking the top honour in one of Australasia’s leading platforms for emerging pianists.

Lynch claimed the senior title at the competition’s Grand Final, held at the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre in Brisbane on 3 July, after performing with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra before an international jury chaired by Venezuelan pianist Sergio Tiempo. 

New Zealand pianist Shan Liu was awarded second prize, while Queensland’s Eric Neumann took third. 

Sheng-Yuan Lynch

In the Young Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, Victorian pianist Dillon Chan won first prize, ahead of fellow Victorian Chloe Au in second place and New South Wales pianist David Kim in third. 

Established in Brisbane in 1999 by pianist Natasha Vlassenko and her husband, pianist Oleg Stepanov, the biennial competition honours the late Soviet-Australian pianist and teacher Lev Vlassenko. It has become a significant stepping stone for young pianists from Australia and New Zealand, with many past winners going on to successful international performing careers. 

The 2026 competition attracted almost 100 pianists across the senior and Young Lev divisions. Preliminary rounds were held during June in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland before six finalists advanced to the concerto finals with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. 

The senior competition is open to pianists aged 16 to 30, while the Young Lev division caters for performers aged 12 to 17. This year’s jury featured leading Australian and international musicians, with Tiempo serving as chair. 

The competition continues to expand its educational focus through the Lev Vlassenko Piano Academy, which also encompasses the Young Lev and children’s programs, creating a pathway for developing pianists from primary school through to professional level.