From the middle of this month, Mr. Yingdi Sun, the young Chinese pianist and the First Prize Winner of the 7th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition held in the Netherlands in May, 2005, will embark on his piano performance tour to South Africa. During his two-week tour in the country, he will show his performances in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, during which he is planning to cooperate with Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1980, Yingdi Sun was born in Shanghai, where he is still studying. Already at a young age he won various prizes in China, including third prize at the 2nd National 'Golden Bell Award' Piano Competition. In 2004 he was granted a Yamaha scholarship that enabled him to give concerts as a chamber musician with laureates of the International Paganini Violin Competition and Tchaikovsky International Music Competition.

Yingdi Sun has been studying since 2001 at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with Professor Sheng Yi-qi and followed masterclasses with Philippe Entremont, Xu Zhong and – in preparation for this edition of the Liszt Competition – Leslie Howard. As First Prize Winner of the 7th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition, Utrecht, Yingdi Sun will embark on a busy international concert tour which will take him all over the world from 2005 to 2007. Besides many concerts in the leading concert halls of Holland, the tour includes concerts in France, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Great Britain, Indonesia, China and the United States. Already on the morning following the Finals, he played at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw with the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jean-Bernard Pommier.

For next concert season, Sun has been invited to play with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Michel Plasson) as well as the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Daniel Raiskin). 

Press reviews:

'Sun was the only pianist who flawlessly performed Liszt's gruesome octave jumps and maintained the tension in both pieces to the very end.' (De Telegraaf)

'In both pieces, winner Sun proved to be the most inspired musician. His recital was distinguished by colour and elegance. His arpeggios sound like wistful clouds, with drops of mist shining individually.' (De Volkskrant)

'The jury awarded first prize to the Chinese pianist Sun Yingdi. Understandable, with Sun's flawless precision, his clear and sparkling performance, and his ability to communicate actively with the orchestra. You could call his interpretations, 'Liszt in primary colours.' (Utrechts Nieuwsblad)

'Winner Yingdi presented himself as the most stable finalist. He made a relaxed and solid impression with his fluent virtuoso interpretations, in which he emphasized in mild colour patterns the lyrical and poetic qualities of Liszt.' (NRC Handelsblad)

'Sun Yingdi made a highly convincing impression with his nimble playing, characterised by a seemingly unlimited technical mastery.' (Twentsche Courant Tubantia)

'He revealed the music's profound expressivity, and clearly demonstrated an ability to move the listener. He emphasised dynamics in a striking manner and created a logical and coherent whole from the strongly contrasting movements.' (Brabants Dagblad)

'His playing betrays a phenomenal degree of knowledge of the piano as an instrument.' (De Gelderlander)