NEW YORK CITY—Young pianists from around the world gathered in New York City for the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition, where seven laureates were honored for exceptional performances celebrating classical tradition, cultural exchange, and a strong sense of community.

Following four days of musical showcases, the competition concluded on Sept. 5. Rather than the tense rivalry typical of international contests, the event was described by participants as a grand festival with a welcoming community.

The competition, hosted by The Epoch Times’ sister outlet NTD, culminated in a stirring winners’ concert featuring the newly crowned laureates alongside past champion Antonii Baryshevskyi, followed by an awards banquet where contestants, jurors, and organizers reflected on their shared artistic journey.

Award winners and presenters of NTD's Eighth International Piano Competition pose for a photo on the stage of the Engelman Recital Hall in New York City on Sept. 5, 2026. (Larry Dai/The Epoch Times)

Russian émigré Vitalii Khairutdinov won the Gold Award, Polish pianist Elzbieta Bilicka took the Silver Award, and Taiwanese pianist Francis Lien received the Bronze Award. The Best Rendition Award of the Commissioned Composition went to Vietnamese pianist Khoi Luu, while Outstanding Performance Awards were presented to Joseph Gallwas of the United States, Ching-Yi Lin of Taiwan, and Pusheng Wang of China.

Overcoming Adversity to Set a New Milestone

The competition, organized by NTD, is dedicated to revitalizing traditional culture and classical piano repertoire from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras.

Jury chair Becky Yao of Fei Tian College noted that this year presented extraordinary global logistical hurdles, from international conflicts to visa delays and travel costs. Yet, against all odds, the resulting performances exceeded every expectation.

On Sept. 5, 2026, Becky Yao, chair of the jury for the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition, speaks at a banquet following the awards ceremony and winners’ concert. (NTD)

“I’m so excited after the concert, and I don’t know what to say—I’m speechless,” Yao said during the celebration banquet. “Your performing level, your literature level, and your participation—everything is top. Some of the playing of music is beyond my expression.”

Yao particularly praised Khairutdinov’s final-round performance of Franz Liszt’s piano arrangement of Richard Wagner’s “Overture to Tannhäuser,” an immensely demanding transcription that compresses the grandeur of an orchestra into a single piano.

“The Wagner and Liszt music is like a monument, and that’s our competition monument, too,” she said. “I love the music because I can feel right away the resilience, the spirit in this music—with a very simple, solemn, noble theme carried on over and over with different variations and different techniques. ... It’s almost impossible, because Liszt is the ultimate master who developed piano technique to the highest realm.”

‘Big Family’ Rather Than Rivalry

For the contestants, the warmth and supportive environment created by the organizers and fellow competitors left the deepest impression.

Russian pianist Vitalii Khairutdinov at NTD's Eighth International Piano Competition in New York City on Sept. 5, 2026. (Larry Dai/The Epoch Times)

Gold award winner Khairutdinov described the four days as a transformative experience that extended beyond the keyboard.

“It’s a whole festival, this competition,” Khairutdinov said. “The organization is so precise, and not every competition can have it.

“That’s a great experience, and I wish to have such days further.”

Silver medalist Bilicka said the collegial atmosphere completely dissolved the usual pressures of performing.

Polish pianist Elzbieta Bilicka, Silver Award winner at the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition, delivers her remarks during the awards celebration banquet following the winners’ concert in New York City on Sept. 5, 2026. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times)

“It does feel that people are extremely generous and welcoming here—the organizers and other competitors,” Bilicka said.

“So it didn’t feel like a competition almost at all. I didn’t feel the pressure. I didn’t feel that I have to compete against anybody. It was like we’re all a big family together in this game.”

Francis Lien, Bronze Award winner at the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition, during the awards celebration banquet following the winners’ concert in New York City on Sept. 5, 2026. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times)

Lien, who earned his second consecutive Bronze Award at the NTD competition, echoed the sentiment: “First of all, we just met a lot of friends here. ... We made it. We finished this competition. Just keep going.”

Outstanding Performance recipient Lin, who oftentimes balanced nine hours of daily college teaching with grueling practice sessions to return for his second NTD competition, remarked on the distinct atmosphere.

“I really enjoy the atmosphere, and it feels like such a warm family—a scenario that you would never experience in other competitions in the past years,” Lin said, noting that he hopes to encourage his own students and colleagues to enter future editions.

Pianists gather to celebrate the conclusion of the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition in New York City on Sept. 5, 2026. (L–R) Antonii Baryshevskyi, Gold Award winner of the Sixth NTD International Piano Competition in 2022; U.S. contestant Rosendo Schwartz; 2024 Gold Award winner Vitalii Khairutdinov; and Portuguese contestant Tiago Rosário. (NTD)

‘Beckoning Me to the Heavens’

A centerpiece of the competition is its specially commissioned composition, required of all semifinalists. Arranged by Qin Yuan from an original vocal piece by the artistic director of Shen Yun Performing Arts, “Divine’s Calling” is a symphonic poem combining ancient Chinese musical sensibilities with Western classical virtuosity.

Khoi Luu, winner of the Best Rendition Award of the Commissioned Composition, performs during the winners’ concert following the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition in New York City on Sept. 5, 2026. (Larry Dai/The Epoch Times)

Khairutdinov lauded the work’s expressive possibilities and technical intricacy.

“This piece opened so many opportunities on the piano,” he noted. “It’s also very complicated in terms of color and structure, and you have to build it up very carefully and very precisely so it’s not falling apart.”

For Bilicka, tackling the piece served as a bridge between cultures.

“For me, this was a journey trying to figure out what was expected of me,” she said. “It helped me learn a lot about Chinese traditional folk music. I do believe my horizons are much wider right now musically, and as a human being, too.”

Gallwas described playing the piece as a deeply spiritual encounter.

“Learning that piece was an incredible journey,” he said. “It felt like some of those harmonies were kind of beckoning me to the heavens. It felt like I was being uplifted when I was playing that. I’m very blessed to have this experience.”

Wang shared a similar appreciation. “I’m really grateful that I learned and played the competition piece. It’s very beautiful, and something I think is very special,” he said. “It’s always exciting and challenging, both at once.”

Inspiration for the Next Generation

For many participants, the gathering served as a catalyst for renewed artistic purpose.

Seventeen-year-old Rosendo Schwartz from Evansville, Indiana—the second-youngest competitor in the field—launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the travel and lodging costs to compete in New York City.

U.S. contestant Rosendo Schwartz of Indiana speaks at a banquet following the awards ceremony and winners’ concert of the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition on Sept. 5, 2026. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times)

“Coming out here, I had not a single clue in my mind what to expect,” Schwartz told the banquet audience. “These are the best performers I’ve seen in my entire life.

“I’m still kind of figuring out what to do with myself when it comes to my primary focus in music, and this has really inspired me to lock in a whole lot more on piano performance. I have a much better idea of what a future in piano could look like, and different levels of playing that can be achieved.

“This is my first piano competition ever. ... Playing in piano competitions is something that I want to do most definitely in the future, and it started here.”

Portugal’s Tiago Rosário, returning for his third NTD competition, emphasized the mutual growth fostered among the pianists.

“This is the very highest level, and I think we are all pushing each other to become better,” he said. “That’s the best thing about this community and this experience—everyone comes together to make music. Everyone learns something for their professional life, personal life, and artistic life.”

Mexican pianist Fernando Ayhllon Flores, who overcame rigorous visa timelines within just 40 days to arrive in New York City, expressed gratitude to the staff who assisted him.

“The persons who support me are an example of the values they live—an example of a way of living,” Flores said. “Life goes on, and it’s a great deal. It’s something bigger than all of us to make art, make music.”

Antonii Baryshevskyi, Sixth NTD International Piano Competition Gold Award winner, performs as a guest artist at the winners’ concert of the Eighth NTD International Piano Competition. (Larry Dai/The Epoch Times)

Baryshevskyi, who won first prize at the Sixth NTD International Piano Competition and returned as a guest artist to perform works by Liszt, commended the ongoing vitality of the event.

“I think the level is really very high,” he said. “I’m so happy that the competition is going on, continuing to develop, and bringing so many talented people here.”

Ambassadors of Hope

Closing the evening, Yao reminded the young pianists that their artistic calling matters deeply in troubled times.

“The world is in chaotic times, and every day we go through living with the unexpected and uncertain,” Yao said. “Keep up the hope, because our competition’s meaning and goal is to keep up our traditional culture.

“Classical music is a God-given music created for human beings. Keep up your humanity, your good heart, and your dedication to the music.”

Addressing the pianists as “ambassadors of piano artistry,” she encouraged them to take the inspiration and friendship they discovered in New York City back to their communities across the globe—continuing their lifelong mission to bring beauty and hope to the world.

Shi Ping and Lily Yu contributed to this report.