Guangbin Wang, 23 (China)

Guangbin Wang began learning piano at the age of five and, by eight, began studying under Dr. Songwen Li at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, China, where he later graduated from the piano department. He continues to study under Dr. Li.

A true musical prodigy, Guangbin demonstrated extraordinary abilities from an early age, including exceptional rhythmic discernment, remarkable memory, and advanced creative intuition. By age ten, he had already memorized large bodies of repertoire, including complete sets of Haydn and Mozart sonatas, Bach’s French and English Suites, and Chopin’s Études, Mazurkas, Waltzes, Ballades, and Nocturnes. He could perform these works at will and developed parallel talents in jazz improvisation, classical and jazz composition, and large-scale transcription. His piano transcriptions—ranging from Strauss waltzes and polkas to Tchaikovsky ballets, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé and Rapsodie espagnole, Debussy’s La Mer and Nocturnes, and Wagner overtures—have drawn comparisons to the work of Liszt; Professor Yunjie Chen of the Central Conservatory of Music likened his mastery of orchestral effect on the piano to Liszt's own.

In 2016, during the 6th Shenzhen Open Piano Competition, the judging panel created an Outstanding Transcription Award especially for Guangbin’s piano transcription of Debussy’s Fêtes.

Astonishingly, Guangbin is completely blind, having lost his vision at one year old. His entire musical development has relied on exceptional auditory perception and tactile sensitivity. He learns large-scale works—including atonal and contemporary repertoire—at extraordinary speed, such as learning Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto within a month, and performs entirely from memory without slips. He can even independently voice each line of a Bach fugue at the keyboard.

Guangbin has achieved outstanding results in numerous domestic and international competitions (see below), and has been invited to perform at major music festivals, seminars, and concerts across China.

Competition Awards

1. July 27, 2024 – First Place, Professional Youth Group, Xiamen Music Season International Piano Open Competition

2. Aug. 15, 2023 – First Prize, Professional Division, Greater Bay Area Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Youth Piano Competition, Zhuhai

3. Aug. 8, 2023 – Bronze Medal, Professional Division, Fifth Seiler Samick Youth Piano Competition, Shanghai

4. Jun. 12, 2023 – First Prize, Xinghai Conservatory Pearl River–Kayserburg Scholarship Piano Competition, Guangzhou

5. May 12, 2023 – Fourth Prize, Professional Division, Fifth Lang Lang–Futian International Piano Festival and National Youth Piano Competition, Shenzhen

6. Aug. 17, 2022 – Second Prize, Professional Division, Xinghai Cup National Piano Competition, Beijing

7. Aug. 4, 2022 – First Prize, Professional Youth Division, Baiyu Lan International Music Festival and Piano Competition, Shanghai

8. Jul. 23, 2022 – Second Prize, Professional Youth Division, Xiamen Concert Season International Piano Competition

Important Concert Appearances

1. July 26, 2024 – Performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto in B-flat minor, Op. 23, with the Xiamen Song and Dance Theater Symphony Orchestra at Hongtai Concert Hall, conducted by Sicong Bian

2. Mar. 29, 2024 – Featured in the “Famous School and Famous Teacher Series Concert – Xinghai Conservatory Top Innovative Talent Solo Concert” at Shenzhen Binhai Art Center

3. Oct. 2023 – Represented Xinghai Conservatory at the Nationwide Outstanding Student Piano Concert, China Piano Xiamen Piano Art Festival

4. Apr. 2023 – Featured performer representing the Xinghai Conservatory at the National Piano Teaching Seminar in Ningbo

5. Jul. 2019 – Featured performer in the Professor Yuan Sheng and Visually Impaired Youth Musicians Public Welfare Concert, International Conference and Exhibition Center, Beijing

6. Oct. 2018 – Featured performer in the Beijing “Music Bright Tour” concert, Zhongshan Auditorium

7. Jan. 2018 – Special guest performer, Hainan International Piano Music Week, Haikou

8. Aug. 2016 – Specially invited performer for the closing ceremony of the 16th Xinghai Cup National Piano Competition at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing