Hong Kong musician Aristo Sham has become the city’s first pianist to win the top prize at the prestigious Cliburn competition in the United States.
The 29-year-old won the gold medal and a cash award of US$100,000 (HK$784,800) on Saturday after defeating five other finalists at the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
His prize also includes three years of individualised career management, a Platoon Records live album, a promotional package covering press kits and website management, as well as performance attire sponsored by US department store chain Neiman Marcus.
As part of the three-year career management programme, Sham will embark on US and international concert tours.
Vitaly Starikov of Israel/Russia won the silver medal, while American pianist Evren Ozel was awarded the bronze.
Sham also received the Carla and Kelly Thompson Audience Award, which came with a cash prize of US$2,500 (HK$19,700).
Sham was among 28 pianists handpicked from a pool of 340 applicants from 45 countries and regions to compete in the 2025 Cliburn competition, which started on May 21 in Fort Worth, Texas.
During the final round, Sham played Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83.
In a backstage interview with the competition organiser released on Sunday, Sham said the Mendelssohn piece he played was “whimsy” and full of “dazzling virtuosity” and “irresistible lightness.” He added he was glad to be the first contestant to play Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Cliburn Competition.
“At the end of the second movement, it’s like this overwhelming feeling that no matter what happens in the world, everything will be okay. I feel that so much with Mendelssohn, and I think that really is his music’s worth,” he said.
According to his profile on the Cliburn website, Sham learned piano at the age of three from his mother. He began competing and playing in concerts when he was 10 years old.
He graduated from Harvard University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts and earned a master’s degree in piano performance at the New England Conservatory of Music under pianist Victor Rosenbaum in 2020.
He went on to study at the Ingesund School of Music in Sweden before going back to the US to acquire an artist diploma at The Juilliard School.
Sham has played in concerts in Asia, Europe, and the US, including with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed for British royalty and former Chinese leader Hu Jintao.
