Raymond Young
Hailed by the press as a pianist with ‘imagination and romance in his poetry’, ‘exquisite tone, interpretative insights and deep communicative powers’, Raymond Young won the First-prize Medal (Two Piano section) and the Silver Medal (Piano Duet section) at The International Piano Competition in Rome, Italy; and was honoured at the Braunschweig Classix Festival in Germany with the ‘Förderpreis’. The first Bösendorfer artist from Hong Kong, his numerous circuit concerts and performances spread throughout Austria, England, Germany, Italy, Russia, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and throughout China over the years have won him great acclaim from critics and audiences for his refined musicianship and artistry.
Apart from his busy schedule as a performer, he is also highly in demand as a piano pedagogue. He has been appointed as a Professor at ‘Wiener MusikSeminar’, Guest Professor of The Hainan University and Sichuan University of Culture and Arts, and on the piano faculty of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Recognized as one of the most respected educators, many of his students have furthered their musical studies at leading music schools in Europe, United States and Australia, and have won awards in numerous competitions.
As the first pianist from Hong Kong to be awarded the highest scholarship by the Austrian Government, Mr. Young graduated with Double Master of Arts degrees in performance and vocal accompaniment, and a Diploma in piano pedagogy from the prestigious University for Music and Performing Arts (MDW) in Vienna, his true home of the heart where he lived for over a decade under the refining influence of that greatest of musical cities. On account of his achievements and numerous recommendations, he was also granted the Austrian citizenship. He has benefited from such masters as Joseph Banowetz (a student of Clara Schumann’s disciple); Paul Badura-Skoda (an authority of the Classical Viennese style); Walter Fleischmann (a fifth generation student of Beethoven and third generation student of Franz Liszt); David Lutz and Norman Shetler.
Being a sought-after adjudicator, he has been invited to serve as the Chairman of Trial Jury in China for the Hong Kong – International Piano Open Competition, and Head Juror for The Hong Kong Students Open Music Competition, and has been on the judge panel at many major competitions in the region, including the The Steinway and Sons International Youth Piano Competition, Hong Kong–Asia Open Piano Competition, Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, Guangzhou Piano Open Competition, Macao-Asia Open Piano Competition and the Macao Young Musicians Competition amongst others. Mr. Young is a standing member appointed as an examiner for the Yamaha Music Foundation and a committee member of Hong Kong International Musician Association, Hong Kong Music Tutors Union and Hong Kong Piano Music Association.
