‘A total phenomenon’: pianist Lauren Zhang wins BBC Young Musician prize

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Lauren Zhang competing in the 2017 Aarhus International Piano Competition last March. Zhang, who lives in Birmingham, is the BBC's Young Musician of the year. Photo: AIPC

Published: 2:55pm, 14 May 2018Updated: 11:11pm, 14 May 2018

A 16-year-old pianist has won this year’s BBC Young Musician award. Lauren Zhang, who lives and studies in Birmingham, competed against 18-year-old saxophonist Robert Burton and 18-year-old cellist Maxim Calver to win the title in the 40th year of the competition.

She performed Prokofiev’s 2nd Piano Concerto in G minor, op16 with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth.

The judges praised her performance of a hugely challenging and ambitious work: “Her exceptional level of technical skill and intelligent musicality shone through in a beast of a piece,” said Kerry Andrew, chair of the judging panel.

“She has a natural genuine musicianship … and a real intelligence,” said violinist and previous winner Nicola Benedetti.

Pianist Lauren Zhang is the BBC's Young Musician of the Year. Photo: BBC

Having spent a lifetime making music with some of the world’s finest musicians I can honestly say that Lauren is up there with the best – she is a total phenomenon

Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Lauren said: “I’m astonished … I can’t quite believe it! It’s been a fantastic opportunity to play with the CBSO and the journey right from the start of the competition has been incredible.”