Aristo Sham
Aristo Sham | |
|---|---|
| 沈靖韜 | |
| Born | March 12, 1996 |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (BA) New England Conservatory (MM) Juilliard School (AD) |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Classical |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Website | aristosham |
Aristo Sham (Chinese: 沈靖韜; born 12 March 1996) is a Hong Kong pianist. He is the winner of numerous international prizes and has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras.[1] In 2025, he gained recognition after winning the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.[2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Born in Hong Kong, Sham began piano lessons with his mother at the age of three.[5] His father, C.W. Sham, is a physics teacher at tutoring school Beacon College.[6] He attended Diocesan Boys' School for primary education and was a student of Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, before moving to London for studies at Harrow School.[7][8]
Sham first came to attention as the winner of the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in 2006, the Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition in 2008, and the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition in 2011.[9][10][11] In 2009, he was featured in the TV series, The World’s Greatest Musical Prodigies, broadcast by Channel 4 in the UK.[12] In 2011, he earned an FRSM in Piano Performance with distinction, and was appointed a Steinway Young Artist the following year.[13]
After completing secondary education, Sham enrolled in a dual-degree program, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University and a Master of Music from New England Conservatory, where he learned with Victor Rosenbaum.[14][15] He has since graduated with an Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School under the guidance of Robert McDonald and Orli Shaham.[16] His other principal teachers include Colin Stone and Julia Mustonen-Dahlkvist.[17]
Career
[edit]Since his Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra debut with Edo de Waart at age eleven, Sham has collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle, English Chamber Orchestra under Raymond Leppard, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, among others.[18][19][20][21][22] He has also performed for royalty and dignitaries such as King Charles III, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, and former President of China, Hu Jintao.[23]
Building on his earlier achievements, Sham received further recognition after winning the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, followed by the Grand Prix at the 2023 Monte Carlo Music Masters.[24][25] He is also a top prize-winner at the Gina Bachauer, Clara Haskil, Vendome Prize at Verbier Festival, New York, Viotti, Dublin, Casagrande, Viseu, and Saint-Priest International Piano Competitions.[26]
In June 2025, Sham won the Gold Medal and Audience Award at the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas.[27][28][29] The prize came with $100,000 USD, a live album, international concert tours, and three years of career management.[30][31]
Discography
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Voyage[32] |
|
Awards
[edit]- 2006: Ettlingen International Piano Competition – First Prize and Bärenreiter Urtext Special Prize
- 2008: Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition – First Prize
- 2008: Hong Kong Top 10 Outstanding Teens[13]
- 2011: Minnesota International Junior Piano-e-Competition – First Prize and Schubert Prize
- 2015: Viseu International Piano Competition – First Prize[33]
- 2016: New York International Piano Competition – First Prize and Best Performance of Commissioned Work
- 2017: Vendome Prize at the Verbier Festival – Third Prize[34]
- 2017: Clara Haskil International Piano Competition – Finalist
- 2017: Viotti International Music Competition – Second Prize
- 2017: Saint-Priest International Music Competition – Second Prize[35]
- 2018: Dublin International Piano Competition – Fourth Prize[36]
- 2018: Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition – Second Prize and Audience Prize[37]
- 2018: Young Concert Artists International Auditions – First Prize
- 2019: Alessandro Casagrande International Piano Competition – First Prize[38]
- 2023: Monte Carlo Music Masters – Winner and Prince Rainier III Prize
- 2025: Van Cliburn International Piano Competition – Gold Medal and Audience Award
References
[edit]- ^ "Aristo Sham". Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
- ^ "Aristo Sham of Hong Kong wins the 2025 Van Cliburn Piano Competition". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ "Aristo Sham wins Gold at 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". Gramophone.
- ^ "Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham wins prestigious Van Cliburn international competition". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "A Pianist on the World Stage". Harvard Magazine.
- ^ 倪清江 (8 June 2025). "沈靖韜奪國際鋼琴賽冠軍 父親沈楚煒曾爆平日不怎麼練琴最愛打機". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Meet Aristo Sham, the Hong Kong pianist who won the prestigious Van Cliburn". Tatler Asia.
- ^ "Featuring Aristo Sham". Medici.tv.
- ^ "HK youngsters win global piano contest". news.gov.hk.
- ^ "Piano prodigy brings home another trophy". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Balance in the scales: Aristo Sham Ching-tao on school and music". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Aristo Sham - KNS Classical". KNS Classical.
- ^ a b "青年鋼琴演奏家沈靖韜 明年一月香港大會堂展現個人魅力" [Young pianist Aristo Sham will showcase his artistry at Hong Kong City Hall in January next year.]. Government of Hong Kong. 2 December 2013.
- ^ "NEC Alumni Win Gold, Bronze Medals at Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". New England Conservatory of Music.
- ^ "Symphony hosts gold medalists in Piano Extravaganza concert". Magnolia Banner News.
- ^ "Aristo Sham". The Cliburn.
- ^ "Romantic Reflections". Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
- ^ "Bank of Communications brings to you Farewell to Edo - Visions Unveiled". Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
- ^ "Sir Simon Rattle: 'more people in mainland China are learning the piano than the population of Germany'". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Aristo Sham, piano". Kaufman Music Center.
- ^ "Utah Symphony's 2024 Deer Valley Music Festival celebrates 20th anniversary with Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. and more". The Park Record.
- ^ "Pianist Aristo Sham". Wisconsin Public Radio.
- ^ "A Piano Prodigy Who's Played for Royalty". Urban Milwaukee.
- ^ "2018 Young Concert Artists Winners Announced". Musical America.
- ^ "Aristo Sham crowned winner of the Monte-Carlo Music Masters 2023". Ingesund Piano Center.
- ^ "Aristo Sham". Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
- ^ "Aristo Sham wins Gold Medal of 2025 Cliburn Competition; Winners Announced". Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
- ^ "Aristo Sham ('19) Wins Gold Medal at Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". Harvard University.
- ^ "Van Cliburn Piano Competition names 1st champion from Hong Kong; American takes bronze". Fort Worth Star Telegram.
- ^ "Pianist Aristo Sham Wins 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". The Violin Channel.
- ^ "Aristo Sham Wins 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition". symphony.org.
- ^ "Internationally recognised pianist from Hong Kong, Aristo Sham, Enters KNS Classical with "Voyage"". KNS Classical.
- ^ "Viseu International Piano Competition". Festival Internacional de Música da Primavera de Viseu.
- ^ "The Vendome Prize - History". Vendome Prize.
- ^ "2ème Concours de piano de Saint-Priest/Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – Un concours dans sa ville". ConcertClassic (in French).
- ^ "Winners - Dublin International Piano Competition". Dublin International Piano Competition.
- ^ "Korean pianist wins Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Salt Lake City". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ "Winners of Past Editions - Concorde Casagrande". Concorso Casagrande.
External links
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