Story by Mary Lin, Head of Music Saint Kentigern College

Catherine Chang has been selected to participate in the 2022 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition which brings together 15 of New Zealand's finest young pianists for an intensive and inspiring two days of music-making.

Each competitor will perform two 30-minute recital programmes of their choice. The repertoire must include a work by a New Zealand composer. The adjudicator Terence Dennis will select three competitors to compete in the Grand Final on Saturday, 12 February.

Catherine was a music scholar during her time at Saint Kentigern College, winning the wind and piano section of the College Solo Music Competition.

She played the principal flute (section leader) for the College’s Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, was the principal viola player in Chamber Orchestra, and leader of the premier choir, Kentoris. Her talented contribution resulted in many regional and national gold awards for the College’s premier music ensembles.

Her performance as part of the Saint Kentigern College Quartet received the KBB Awards and Silver Awards at the National Chamber Contest Finals in 2020. Catherine also received NZQA Scholarship in Music in 2020 for her enchanting piano performance.

In her first year at University of Auckland, Catherine performed the West Side Story Symphonic Suite with Auckland Youth Orchestra, and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra as the Haydn Staples Piano Scholar.

Last year, Catherine took time out of her busy university and performance schedule to play as guest artist at our Large Ensemble Showcase in Elliot Hall, wowing the audience with Debussy’s l'isle Joyeuse.

We wish Catherine all the best as she competes to be one of the finalists of the competition this week.

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