On September 14, Emma Liu ’26 and Victoria Fang ’25 placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, at the MozArte International Festival and Piano Competition Aachen in Germany.
Eighty musicians from 24 countries entered the competition, which was organized by the Aachen branch of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, one of the largest music academies in Europe. World-renowned pianists were invited to join a panel of judges. Liu and Fang competed in the Young Professionals category, for musicians between 14 and 17 years of age.
Liu performed pieces by Beethoven, Chopin, and Prokofiev. “All three of my pieces were different in character and style. I wanted this repertoire to represent me as a musician from all different angles. Beethoven was a cheerful upbeat piece. Chopin is completely the opposite. It is a piece that is often associated with war. The huge contrast between Beethoven and Chopin is something I wanted to show I can do. The Prokofiev I played is more contemporary than the other two. It’s free, in the way that musicians can play it in their own particular style,” said Liu.
Mr. Fabio Witkowski, head of the visual and performing arts department, said, “Emma is a wonderful pianist who practices diligently. After all her practice, she is able to go on stage and deliver performances that resonate with the audience.”
Fang performed works by Schumann, Debussy, and Hough. She said, “Debussy was new to me, because I don’t play much French music. This allows me to become a better musician by being able to explore and get out of my comfort zone. Coming to Hotchkiss, I was not expecting so many resources. I’m so grateful for Mr. Witkoski and the opportunities that I’ve been given.”
Mr. Witkowski said, “Victoria is a fantastic student. Attending Julliard on Saturdays, being a strong academic student, a proctor, and such a high-level musician is quite amazing.”
In July, Fang and Liu attended the school’s Spain summer program for musicians. In Madrid, they performed, took classes with professional musicians, and explored Spanish culture. Fang said, “Music is a universal language. On my trip to Spain, I felt that I was able to communicate with the audience. I think that it’s such a beautiful method of expression.”
