How did you/ do you decide whether to do a competition, and how did you choose which competition to try? I believe that music and art cannot be easily graded. However, competitions are an inevitable part of our careers. Personally, I view competitions as opportunities for self-improvement. They allow me to set goals and work toward them within a specific timeframe. Choosing which competition to enter depends on timing and where you are in your life. For example, some competitions might occur when you’re not available or ready. Most importantly, it’s essential to feel excited and willing to commit to the journey ahead. What is your biggest motivation while preparing for a competition? What are you aiming for? Preparing for a competition is a long and exhausting process. It is impossible to feel energetic and motivated the whole time. My biggest goal was to be able to feel good and ready no matter the circumstances. What helped me the most was focusing on and visualizing the time at the competition. Imagining myself enjoying my time on stage made every minute of practice feel worthwhile. How long before a competition do you begin to prepare? Do you change your practice habits and practice hours? Once the repertoire list was announced and I’d chosen which pieces to play, I began reading through most of the selections. Some pieces were new to me, while others
I’ve already played, so I prioritized the newer ones first. My practice habits and hours hadn’t changed much from my usual routine, but I tried to plan out my remaining time before the competition. I believe it’s crucial to map out how I’ll use that time, so I’m not caught off guard by a piece I haven’t practiced until two weeks before the competition! Also, I made sure to go through the entire program at least once every couple of days! How do you mentally prepare? What would your advice be to younger colleagues? Two things I find crucial are visualization and run-throughs. In our practice rooms, we often get so caught up in the details that we forget to consider the piece as a whole. From my experience, after working on the details, it’s essential to visualize performing on stage. It is really important to have a confident and welcoming presence on stage. And I think that comes from experience. What helps even better is the opportunity to play for an audience— whether it’s colleagues, teachers, or family. It’s incredibly important to perform every piece at least once under pressure!
What is most important for you in winning a competition?
While career achievements, prize money, concerts, and recordings are undoubtedly important, for me, the greatest reward has been the feeling of confidence. Knowing that so many people enjoy listening to my music motivates me to keep moving forward and pursuing what I love.
Laureates in Focus
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