GFA Piano 2 Masterclass

Congyu Wang

Hailed as a “complete musician–a sensitive artist and an extremely talented young pianist”, CongyuWang is an internationally renowned soloist who has garnered acclaim as a recitalist, accompanistand chamber musician.

Born in Singapore, Congyu Wang started playing the piano at the age of 3. He was selected for a scholarship that enabled him to attend the prestigious Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, where he studied with renowned French pianists Jean-Marc Luisada and Odile Catelin-Delangle. He later enrolled in the Schola Cantorum (Paris) to continue his studies with Gabriel Tacchino (who had beenFrancis Poulenc’s only student). Ever since youth, Congyu Wang has enjoyed phenomenal success in international piano competitions, ultimately winning the Grand Prize in Berlin and Bordeaux. Hisother prizes include Vulaines-sur-Seine, Lagny-sur-Marne, Merignac, Paris, Jakarta, Tallinn and Cled’OrReunion. He was featured inthe national news journal ‘Zao Bao’as Singapore’s most promising young artist of the year in 2016.

At the Chopin International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Slovenia, Congyu was awarded 6th Prize. One of the jury members, François Weigel, believed he should have won, and resigned thereupon in protest. Congyu Wang has since made appearances in over1200 recitals in

France, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Mauritius, South Africa, Reunion Island, Dubai, China,Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia,Singapore and other countries.

Highlights of some of his performances include festival appearances at Château de la Verrerie (France), Ernen Music Festival (Switzerland), the Geza Anda Piano Festival (Berlin), the International Isang Yun Academy (Paris),International Hammer Klavier Piano Series (Barcelona),Amarante International Piano Festival (Portugal),Algarve Music Series (Faro),Chopin Festival(Belgrade),International Goteborg Piano Festival (Sweden). Congyu Wang has performed for many important guests internationally–Celebrities, Bankers, Diplomats and Ambassadors including the Prince of Brunei, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Ambassadors and Consular of France, Singapore, China and Norway.

Congyu Wang has earned a reputation for delivering stunning performances of extremely demanding repertoire. His vast repertoire includes 30 piano concertos, along with the complete solo piano oeuvre of Chopin and Poulenc. Congyu Wang has shared the stage with many well-known musicians, such as Roman Leuleu, Agnes Kallay, Giancarlo de Lorenzo, Elena Xanthoudakis, Pascal Roge, Grigor Palikarov, quatour arsis etc. Congyu Wang published his first album ‘Charme’ on KNS classical featuring the works of Francis Poulenc to international acclaim. Recently he released his second album ‘Reflets’ dedicated to Claude Debussy commemorating the 100th death anniversary of the French Composer. His recordings are frequently broadcasted on radios internationally–France Musique, BBC radio 3 (UK), Radio Vie (Reunion), Radio Antena 2 (Portugal), Classic 1027 (SouthAfrica), Symphony 92.4 (Singapore) etc.In 2019 Congyu Wang was featured on the movie ‘UneBarque sur l’Ocean’ directed by French director Arnold de Parscau.

István Székely

Professor at the Katarina Gurska Superior Conservatory in Madrid and Franz Liszt Center for special talents in La Nucia (Spain).

István is a concert pianist and internationally recognised teacher: he has been invited in Master Classes in Budapest (Hungary), in the World Teachers Conference in Novi Sad (Serbia), in the Katarina Gurska Conservatory, in Forum Musikae (Madrid), in the International Piano Festival “UIS” in Bucaramanga, in Manizales (Colombia), Special School of Music in Apatin, Sombor, Senta, Backa Topola (Serbia), Conservatory in Alicante and Dénia, in the International Music Festival in Valencia etc. He is frequent jury member in international competitions such as the Franz Liszt International Competition in Rome (Italy), the Takács Competition in Oberschützen (Austria), Bucaramanga (Colombia), the IMFV Valencia competition, the Ibiza International Competition, the “Villa de Xabia” International Contest etc.

Winner of several awards in national and international competitions. Since the age of 15 he has given recitals in Europe, the United States, South America and Asia. To name a few: in Alexandria and New Harmony (Indianapolis, USA), in the International Piano Festival in Bucaramanga, International Piano Festival in Barrancabermeja, cycle “International Season in Manizales” (Colombia), “Kolarac” in Belgrade ( Serbia), in the “Kodály” Institute, “Kodály” School, in the “Béla Bartók” Museum, in one of the most important festivals “Zsidó Kulturális Fesztivál” in Szeged (Hungary), recitals in Sweden, Greece, in the festival “Midis-minimes”, in “Muziekacademie de Berchem-Sainte-Agathe in Brussels (Belgium) and in Spain in important auditoriums such as the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Palau de la Música in Valencia, Teatro Principal de Alcoy, congress center” Victor Villegas “in Murcia, in the” Adoc “, in the University of Burgos, in the International Chamber Music Festival in Calpe, in” Dénia Classics “, Aula de la Cam in Alicante, Teulada Auditorium, La Beneficencia in Valencia, in the Auditorio de la Diputación, “ADDA” in Alicante, Auditorium Mediterrania in La Nucia among others. He has performed in private concert for the Princess of Thailand S.A.R. Chulabhorn Mahidol.

His teachers were Aleksandar Madzar, Orsolya Szabó, Michael Boguslavski, Mátyás Molcer, Valéria Utasi, Milica Dundjerov at the Brussels Royal Conservatory, Jerusalem Rubin Academy, Kodály Institute of Kecskemét, Conservatory of Subotica and Music School in Sombor.
He is founder and member of the international Camerata “Universal Music”. He has performed with international artists such as Clara Novakova, Joaquin Palomares, Joan Enric Lluna, Jovan Bogosavljevic, Susanna Gregorian, with the soloists of the Orchestra of Valencia etc.

In 2017 István Székely made the recording of five Chopin etudes for the animated short film Impromptu, directed by María Lorenzo and produced by Enrique Millán, with the participation of Cultur Arts (Generalitat Valenciana) and the A Punt Media network . Impromptu has been one of the most relevant Spanish animation shorts of the last year, being shortlisted for the Goya 2018 Awards. It was premiered at the emblematic Alcalá de Henares Film Festival, and so far it has been screened in more than 50 events in 20 countries, such as the Animation Festival of Annecy (France), the Bristol Encounters (United Kingdom), Anima Mundi (Brazil) or the Animation Nights (New York). Prizes won: Best Art Animation at the Expression Art Movie Festival (Los Angeles, USA), Best Short Film (exaequo) at the Animaze Animation International Festival (Montreal, Canada), Best Experimental Animation Short at the International Animation Cardboard Festival – La Tribu (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Best Animation Short Film at the Astorga Film Festival (Spain), Best Valencian Animation at the Cortoons (Gandía).

Gülsin Onay

Gülsin Onay’s truly international career has spanned 80 countries across all continents, from Venezuela to Japan. She has given concerts in the major musical centres such as Concertgebouw, Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus, Wigmore Hall, National Gallery of Art and Miller Theater. Onay has performed as a soloist with such leading orchestras as Dresden Staatskapelle, Philharmonia Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Japan Philharmonic, St Petersburg Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic and Vienna Symphony. Conductors with which she has performed include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Erich Bergel, Jorg Faerber, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Neeme Jarvi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jose Serebrier and Stanislaw Wislocki.

Cambridge-based Turkish State Artist, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, in high demand for her unique and sensuous Chopin, Saygun and Rachmaninoff interpretations. Onay was in 2007 honoured with the award of a State Medal by the Polish nation. She is also acknowledged worldwide as the finest interpreter of the music of A.Adnan Saygun, whose works feature prominently in her concerts and recordings, and whose 2nd Piano Concerto was dedicated to her