The winner of the YPF European Piano Competition 2022 that took place on Sunday afternoon 20th February in the Grote Zaal of Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ is: Juan Pedro García Oliva. He received the first prize from Ronan O’Hora, chairman of the jury. Second is Noah Zhou and third is Carlos Marín Rayo. The Audience Award was awarded to Juan Pedro García Oliva, who also won the Reza Namavar Award. It is the eighth competition of The Young Pianist Foundation, which is responsible for the organization of the competition. This year 2022 marks the first edition in which participants with an EU passport including the United Kingdom were allowed to participate in the YPF competition. The next edition will take place in February 2025.
During the final on Sunday afternoon the three finalists first played a solo work by the Dutch composer Reza Namavar (world premiere) commissioned by the YPF, which he composed for the YPF.
Then the finalists each played a piano concerto. Carlos Marín Rayo and Noah Zhou performed the Concerto no. 5 by Beethoven and Juan Pedro García Oliva the Concerto by Schumann. The Phion, Orkest van Gelderland & Overijssel conducted by Antony Hermus accompanied the finalists.
During the jury deliberation, Yang Yang Cai (the 2019 winner) played the Sonata no.3 in B minor, op. 58 by F. Chopin. The award ceremony took place in the Grote Zaal immediately after the jury deliberations.
The order of winners of the Grand Final:
1 Juan Pedro Garcia Oliva (2001, Spain)
2 Noah Zhou (2001, United Kingdom)
3 Carlos Marin Rayo (1994, Spain)
