Ethelyn Liu, 10 (United States)

Ethelyn Liu, a vibrant fifth-grade student at Murdock-Portal Elementary School in San Jose, California, exudes joy in all facets of her life, particularly in her deep passion for playing the piano. Her musical journey began at the age of four and a half under the guidance of Prof. Yuri Didenko and Mrs. Yu Le, sparking a fascination that has only grown stronger over time. 

Ethelyn approaches each piece with dedication and enthusiasm, striving for excellence in every note. Her repertoire includes challenging works such as Chopin Études, Rachmaninoff Preludes, and Beethoven Piano Sonatas, which she performs with grace and technical prowess. 

Over the past few years, Ethelyn has achieved remarkable milestones in her musical career. A highlight came in August 2025, when she was invited to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Tarnów Chamber Music ensemble in Poland. In January 2023, she won First Place in the Young Musicians Category at the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition. A few months later, in May 2023, she secured Third Place in the Junior Category of the VIII Paderewski International Piano Competition’s Special Online Edition. Her winning streak continued in June 2023, when she took First Place in the Rising Star Category at the regional 2023 Artciál International Piano Competition. In February 2024, she earned Second Place in the USOPEN Showcase Piano Solo – Elementary group. Most recently, in August 2024, she was awarded the Gold Prize at the San Francisco International Piano Competition. 

Ethelyn’s journey in music is marked not only by her achievements but also by her unwavering commitment to musical excellence and her love for performing. As she continues her piano journey, she is poised to inspire and captivate audiences with her talent and dedication to the art form she holds dear.