NEW YORK—Out of 14 talented pianists, six finalists emerged on stage at Carnegie Hall Oct. 5, 2014, during the Future Stars Recital as part of New Tang Dynasty (NTD) Television’s International Piano Competition. Among them was the young, yet accomplished pianist Wesley Chu who received the Outstanding Performance Award.
Born in Alberta, Canada, Chu has been playing piano since the age of 3. At age 5, he completed grades 1 to 10 of the RCM Examinations. At the age of 10, he had completed the Associate of The Royal Conservatory (ARCT) diploma, making him the youngest pianist to ever achieve this.
Among his many achievements, Chu played his own composition at age 5 for Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Minster of Canada, in Ottawa. And in 1999, he performed his own choral concerto composition “Christmas in Bethlehem” with orchestra and choir, inside the Vatican City in Rome, for Pope John Paul II.
Wesley Chu wrote to the Epoch Times about his philosophy on performing and his future aspirations.
Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
