Pianist Tony Siqi Yun Wins the 2023 LOTTO-Förderpreis at Rheingau Music Festival

The Canadian pianist receives €15,000 in prize money at the German festival

Valued at €15,000, the LOTTO-Förderpreis prize is administered by the Rheingau Music Festival (RMF) and derives its funding from LOTTO Hessen, a German lottery organization.

As part of his prize, Canadian pianist Tony Siqi Yun also performed a solo recital at the festival, which included works by Brahms, Wagner/Liszt, Beethoven, Busoni, and Robert Schumann.

Yun was the winner of the inaugural China International Music Competition in 2019 and has recently made debuts with a number of high-profile orchestras — including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montreal.

He is presently a student of Yoheved Kaplinsky and Matti Raekallio at The Juilliard School.

In 2023 the LOTTO-Förderpreis jury comprised conductor and pianist Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Herrmann (the RMF's artistic and managing director), Martin Blach (managing director of LOTTO Hessen), and the program staff of the Rheingau Music Festival.

"Our award is intended to encourage, help, motivate and also say thank you for great cultural experiences by such outstanding artists as Tony Yun, now and in the future," said Martin Blach.

"Tony Yun is another young Canadian pianist in the fast lane," said the jury. "His playing impresses with a combination of technical brilliance, youthful vigor and refreshing naturalness. In addition to his likeable charisma, pleasant modesty and fascinating virtuosity, this young top musician plays his way directly into the hearts of the audience with his sensitive, almost poetic interpretations."

"In addition, Tony Yun is actively involved in musical education from an early age," the statement continued. "His ability to convey his passion in an understandable and accessible way also makes him another important and valuable ambassador for classical music."