HK enjoys top music education: Aristo Sham
Aristo Sham said music teaching in Hong Kong is among the best in the world. Photo courtesy of the Cliburn Competition website.
Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham says he is honoured to put Hong Kong on the global culture map by showing the world that the city is able to cultivate high-level artists.
The remark came after Sham won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a top classical music contest held every four years in the United States.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Thursday, Sham described the competition as the 'end-game' for him.
'It's one of these competitions that really set you up for life. Whatever you want to do in your career, if you win a prize, it really gives you such an opportunity and also such a platform on a global scale,' he said.
Sham said music teaching in Hong Kong is among the best in the world.
'I would say that studying music in Hong Kong is at a very high level internationally. The music education, especially at a young age, in Hong Kong is really at the highest level globally, there are very few places that can provide as solid and as high level of a foundation,' he said.
Sham also said every musician and performer requires global exposure and knowledge from different cultures.
'It's great that Hongkongers have the opportunity to study overseas, and with the fact that they are able to have such a great foundation in Hong Kong, I think there are a lot of opportunities for success,' he said.
Sham thanked Hong Kong people for their support, saying he is glad to be able to perform in the city on August 30 as the first stop of a concert tour in Asia.
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Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham Ching-tao, 29, won the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the US state of Texas earlier this month. He is the first pianist from Hong Kong to win this award. This achievement sets him on the path to global fame. The announcement of his victory earlier this month followed two-and-a-half weeks of eager waiting. Live streams of the contest's four tough rounds, with 28 competitors from 15 countries, received a combined 20 million views from 145 countries. Sham's name was read out by jury chairman Paul Lewis to loud cheers in the packed Bass Performance Hall. The winner stepped on stage wearing a bow tie and a smile to receive his medal and trophy. Sham started playing the piano at the age of three with his piano teacher mother at home in Hong Kong. He began competing internationally at the age of 10 while attending Diocesan Boys' School. He studied under Shirley Ip and Professor Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He was featured by British broadcaster Channel 4 in its 2009 documentary The World's Greatest Musical Prodigies.
RTHK
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HK enjoys top music education: Aristo Sham
HK enjoys top music education: Aristo Sham Aristo Sham said music teaching in Hong Kong is among the best in the world. Photo courtesy of the Cliburn Competition website. Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham says he is honoured to put Hong Kong on the global culture map by showing the world that the city is able to cultivate high-level artists. The remark came after Sham won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a top classical music contest held every four years in the United States. Speaking at a virtual press conference on Thursday, Sham described the competition as the 'end-game' for him. 'It's one of these competitions that really set you up for life. Whatever you want to do in your career, if you win a prize, it really gives you such an opportunity and also such a platform on a global scale,' he said. Sham said music teaching in Hong Kong is among the best in the world. 'I would say that studying music in Hong Kong is at a very high level internationally. The music education, especially at a young age, in Hong Kong is really at the highest level globally, there are very few places that can provide as solid and as high level of a foundation,' he said. Sham also said every musician and performer requires global exposure and knowledge from different cultures. 'It's great that Hongkongers have the opportunity to study overseas, and with the fact that they are able to have such a great foundation in Hong Kong, I think there are a lot of opportunities for success,' he said. Sham thanked Hong Kong people for their support, saying he is glad to be able to perform in the city on August 30 as the first stop of a concert tour in Asia.
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12-06-2025
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Thank you, Hong Kong, says pianist Aristo Sham after historic Van Cliburn competition win
Aristo Sham Ching-tao, the first pianist from Hong Kong to win the gold medal in the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the city following his victory in one of the world's toughest and most prestigious music competitions. Speaking from New York, Sham said: 'I am overwhelmed by the support in Hong Kong since the news of my win . I really did not expect that.' Born in Hong Kong, he left to study overseas at the age of 14, but remains closely connected to the city despite spending much of his time abroad. 'Nowadays, I am mostly based in New York and spend time in Sweden, where I studied with a professor since 2017, and come back to Hong Kong three to four times a year because my parents are [t]here,' he said at a news conference. Aristo Sham speaking in an online news conference on June 12, 2025. Photo: The Cliburn Sham said he had a tough time during the Covid-19 pandemic when concerts were cancelled and he had visa issues because of to different countries' border restrictions. He credits his decision to study at The Juilliard School in New York 2023 for the career restart that made him feel he was ready for the Van Cliburn competition.
