Meet the Quarterfinalists, Part 4 – The Utah Review

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each weekday, The Utah Review will offer short profiles featuring the 33 quarterfinalists from the 2024 edition. Gina Bachauer International Artist Competition. Afternoon and evening sessions begin on Monday June 17. For tickets and more information, visit Bachauer website.

The Utah Review asked each pianist to answer four questions:

1. Besides practice, how do you mentally prepare or have other rituals (e.g. meditation, stress-relieving activities) for shows in general or competitions such as Bachauer?

2. What has been your most memorable performance so far in your career?

3. Besides the extensive catalog of piano works, what other types of music do you enjoy in your free time?

4. For young pianists aspiring to careers and experiences like those you have had, what advice would you encourage?

Jiaxin Min, 28 years old (China)

Preferred ways to mentally prepare for performance: For me, food is my comfort zone. Whether I cook for myself or eat out, delicious food always brings me happiness and satisfaction. If I’m too anxious and can’t calm down, I choose to clean my room, thereby turning my anxiety into motivation. An impeccable and tidy living environment also brings me peace. If it’s a very important event, I also go to the temple to pray. The majestic statues and architecture give me strength, and the sound of the bells, along with the scent of the temple’s incense, helps me find peace.
Most memorable performance: The most memorable performance for me was my first public performance when I was four years old. I entered a children’s competition and, at the time, I had only been learning piano for six months. In the preliminary round of the competition, I performed a sonata. My performance was interrupted by the judges halfway through. I thought it was because I played badly, so I felt very sad. My mother even thought the judges were unfair because they didn’t let me finish the piece. Eventually we found out that it was because the preliminary round did not require a full performance, and the judges stopped me only because the sonata had reached the summary part. In the end, I won second place in this competition.
Other types of music they enjoy: I am very interested in unique musical instruments, such as the tongue drum, kalimba, kora and theremin. I often look for playlists of these instruments on YouTube to listen to. I also enjoy Japanese city pop from the 1980s, as well as the vaporwave genre it inspired.
Advice for budding pianists: I don’t have any particular advice to give to the young generation of pianists because I think that everyone’s artistic journey is unique. What works for me may not work for everyone. I just want to wish every dedicated musician the best in achieving their desired results.

Ziyuan Qu, 23 years old (China)

Preferred ways to mentally prepare for performance: I go to the gym and do some exercises. I always think about my piece when I do exercises.
Most memorable performance: I think it was my first recital when I was 10 years old. I didn’t start my professional training and I was playing in a cafe. I really enjoyed this moment.
Other types of music they enjoy: I always listen to folk music and sometimes pop music.
Advice for budding pianists: Enjoy every moment when you practice!

Virgile Roche, 26 years old (France)

Preferred ways to mentally prepare for performance: I try as much as possible to treat a competition event as a normal concert. This helps a lot to limit the pressure and stress on stage. Also, before playing a program in front of an audience (or a jury), I play it a few times for musician friends to get advice, and I make a lot of self-recordings which I then listen to. It is important to gain experience with the repertoire, and to create moments where you can really pretend to be on stage (even if you are not yet), to get used to it. get used to it!
Most memorable performance: It is difficult to choose one performance among all. I think the best concert of my life took place in Lamezia Terme, Italy. The concert itself, musically, was not very interesting. But it was the very last of a long tour in a piano trio that I was about to leave after 7 years, due to countless human and artistic problems. I wish everyone to one day feel the extreme joy and relief I felt then, to finally be free from this toxic environment. If we are talking strictly about music and the moment on stage, I would choose the final concert of a festival that I organized in my hometown of Saint-Flour two years ago, with works including the Prélude and Fugue in D sharp major by Bach (book 2e), Les Fêtes Galantes by Debussy and Vox Balenae by Crumb for flute, cello and piano. The emotion that evening was incredible.
Other types of music they enjoy: I already have classical piano music in my ears all day, so it’s probably the last thing I’ll listen to in my free time. I would probably prefer symphonic music, baroque music on period instruments, string quartet recordings. And apart from Western classical music, I really like jazz.
Advice for budding pianists: Don’t get stuck in your piano. No matter how much you practice, thousands of people will play the piano as well as you (and even better). You have to find something personal to say, and for that I think you have to play with other instruments, go to as many concerts, exhibitions, artistic performances as possible, read a lot, discover other cultures and languages. . Without curiosity, playing the piano is not very interesting in my opinion.

Hyojin Shin, 27 years old (Korea)

Preferred ways to mentally prepare for performance: I like to walk and immerse myself in nature when preparing for shows or competitions. Preparing takes a lot of energy and can be quite stressful. To achieve this, I step away from the practice room and spend time in nature, which also gives me moments to breathe and get inspired. I especially like to sit on a bench or on the grass, enjoy nature and let my thoughts drift to music. Often, by observing the beauty of nature around me, I find inspiration, imagining how to express the colors of the leaves or the sky on the piano, how to translate natural movements into my music, etc. These moments of connection between nature and music are truly inspiring and help me mentally prepare for performances.
Most memorable performance: The most memorable performance for me was with the Yale Philharmonia in January 2024 at Woolsey Hall in New Haven, which I consider my second hometown. Each performance gave me special feelings, inspiring me to pursue life as a musician and to perform in new venues for diverse audiences. However, this concert was particularly special because it allowed me to look back on my previous years and see my evolution as a musician. Additionally, as a student, I could only enter the hall for public concerts. Years later, standing on stage and seeing the audience supporting me was incredibly moving. The audience and musicians I worked with were wonderfully supportive. I really enjoyed performing in front of over 2,000 people and the experience always fills me with an exciting and comforting feeling.
Other types of music they enjoy: Among classical music, I most enjoy listening to violin pieces, apart from the piano repertoire. The violin has a very different charm from that of the piano. In other genres, I like cozy jazz, which I often play while working or doing household chores. This music helps me feel comfortable and in a good mood.
Advice for budding pianists: If you are willing to be consistent, embrace your life as a musician, and love music, you will always find answers, overcome challenges, and make beautiful music!

Ilya Chmoukler, 29 years old (Russia/Israel)

Preferred ways to mentally prepare for performance: Play the piece without using a piano.
Most memorable performance: Performance where everything matched. I immersed myself in music and was on top of it at the same time. The acoustics were excellent, the piano was wonderful, and the listeners were very responsive.
Other types of music they enjoy: Classical music only.
Advice for budding pianists: These pianists must love what they do. That’s the most important thing.

Your Sun, 23 years old (Korea)

Preferred ways to mentally prepare for performance: I make sure to take time for walks and rest. When I’m stuck in training, I go out and sit, rest, or take a walk
Most memorable performance: I have a deep memory of performing Prokofiev’s concerto last year in Seoul. I remember being very nervous because it was my first collaboration with a major orchestra, but I really enjoyed the performance.
Other types of music they enjoy: I mainly listen to classical music, but sometimes I also listen to K-pop.
Advice for budding pianists: Even though there are many difficulties, I hope they are happy and joyful.