Young Chinese pianist Xu Chenxin won the crown and US$20,000 in the Third China International Piano Competition in Beijing last Sunday.

Iseral Albert Mamrive placed second and Sergey Kuznetsov took the third prize.

Xu, 23, impressed the 11-member jury with his flawless technique, sensitive understanding of the works and youthful passion, especially in her interpretation of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2.

"I like to play piano on the stage. I didn't think much about whether I might win the award or not, I just felt happy to be back in Beijing to perform. Of course, it's great to win such an award. And now I have achieved that," she said after the final competition.

A native of Beijing, Xu entered the middle school attached to the China Central Conservatory of Music in 1992 and four years later she was admitted to the Julliard School in the United States, where she studied under Yoheved Kaplinsky.

A total of 38 contestants from 23 countries including Russia, Israel, Poland, Finland, South Africa, Canada and Japan entered the competition, which ran from May 5 to 16 in Beijing.

Zhou Guangren, head of the jury, said the general level was higher than in the previous two competitions. Among the competitors, 25 had won awards at international competitions.

Three of the 25 Chinese entrants finished in the top six.

(China Daily May 21, 2004)