Prizewinners Announced at Switzerland's Clara Haskil Competition

Pianist Magdalene Ho received First Prize

Founded in 1963 in honor of the Swiss-Romanian pianist Clara Haskil, the Clara Haskil Competition takes place every second year.

Pianist Magdelene Ho has been named as the winner of this year's edition. The youngest of the three finalists, she also received the Audience Award —as well as the Children's Corner Prize and the Coup de Coeur Prize for Young Critics.

Born in California, USA, then raised in Malaysia, Magdalene Ho studied at England's Purcell School with Patsy Toh on a scholarship, which she received at the age of nine. She is the winner of a number of prizes and competitions, including the Classical Prize and a recording contract at the Pianale Summer Course in Fulda, Germany.

Ho won the competition with the unanimous approval of the jury. The other finalists were Elizaveta Ukrainskaia (Russia) and Arthur Hinnewinkel (France).

The jury was comprised of Finghin Collins (president), Marc Coppey, Nino Gvetadze, Piers Lane, Steve Roger, Hiroko Sakagami, and Cédric Tiberghien.

You can hear Ho's winning performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 below.