Piano Island Festival | 8th edition
Hainan, China
24 - 31 July 2026

Dang Thai Son is a Vietnamese–Canadian pianist celebrated as one of the foremost interpreters of Chopin. Born in Hanoi on July 2, 1958, he began piano studies with his mother, Thái Thị Liên, a pioneering Vietnamese pianist. Displaying extraordinary talent from an early age, he made his public debut while still a child.

 

He continued his studies at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Vladimir Natanson and Dmitri Bashkirov, where his artistry and technical mastery were refined. In 1980, he became the first Asian pianist to win the First Prize and Gold Medal at the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, an achievement that launched his international career.

 

Son has performed extensively worldwide with major orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Orchestre de Paris, and NHK Symphony Orchestra. His recital appearances include prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, Salle Pleyel, and the Musikverein, where his interpretations of Chopin and the French repertoire are particularly admired for their poetic nuance and technical brilliance.

 

In addition to performing, he is a distinguished educator and mentor. He has given masterclasses globally and served on juries for leading competitions including the Chopin, Cleveland, Busoni, and Hamamatsu competitions. He currently teaches at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory, shaping the next generation of pianists.

 

His discography features acclaimed recordings of Chopin’s works, including period-instrument performances of the Chopin Concertos, and a collection of Paderewski works with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy. His artistry combines the discipline of the Russian school with deep poetic sensitivity, earning him international recognition as both a performer and pedagogue.

 

Through his performances, recordings, and teaching, Dang Thai Son continues to inspire pianists and audiences worldwide, bridging cultures and elevating the legacy of Chopin in the 21st century.

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www.dangthaison.net

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Pianist Marc-André Hamelin, described by The New York Times as a “performer of near-superhuman technical prowess,” is internationally celebrated for his exceptional virtuosity, musical depth, and adventurous programming. Renowned for both masterworks of the core repertoire and rarely performed gems from the 19th to 21st centuries, he appears regularly with leading orchestras, conductors, and at major concert halls and festivals worldwide.

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Highlights of Hamelin’s recent seasons include recital tours across Asia, Europe, and North America, with appearances at prestigious venues such as London’s Wigmore Hall, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, and Carnegie Hall. As a concerto soloist, he has collaborated with distinguished ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra, Montreal Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony, and São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, he frequently performs with renowned collaborators and ensembles, presenting diverse programs that often include his own compositions.

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An exclusive Hyperion Records artist, Hamelin has released more than 80 acclaimed albums spanning solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoire. His recordings have received widespread critical praise and numerous awards, reflecting his remarkable versatility as both performer and composer. His original works, published by Edition Peters, are admired for their imaginative craftsmanship and virtuosic flair, further establishing his reputation as one of today’s most distinctive composer-pianists.

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Born in Montreal, Hamelin is the recipient of many honors, including multiple Juno Awards and the German Record Critics’ Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada. He currently resides in the Boston area, where he continues an active international performing and recording career.

Xiang-Dong Kong, born in 1968 in Shanghai, is a renowned Chinese pianist, music educator, and advocate for the transformative power of music. He first garnered international attention as one of the young musicians featured in the documentary From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China. Kong’s early promise led him to rigorous musical training and a distinguished competitive career, including First Prize at the 1988 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and First Prize at the 1992 Sydney International Piano Competition.

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Kong began his piano studies at a young age, initially practicing on a paper keyboard his mother drew for him before he ever touched a real instrument. He later studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and went on to further his education in the United States. He established the Kong Xiangdong Music Education Center in China, building music kindergartens, colleges, and centers across multiple cities, and consistently promoting music education for the public. 

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Beyond performance and teaching, Kong has collaborated across artistic genres, including composing for mainstream artists such as Andy Lau and co-creating the song “Forever Friends” for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has dedicated himself to bringing music into hospitals and public spaces, emphasizing its role in emotional well-being and what he describes as “music beyond medicine.” 

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A 75th-generation descendant of Confucius, Kong integrates philosophical and cultural perspectives into his work and mission to enrich human life through music.​

Murray McLachlan is a British concert pianist, educator, and recording artist, born in Dundee, Scotland, on January 6, 1965. He began his musical education at Chetham’s School of Music and later studied at Cambridge University. His mentors included renowned pianists Ronald Stevenson, David Hartigan, Ryszard Bakst, Peter Katin, and Norma Fisher.

 

Since his professional debut in 1986 with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Sir Alexander Gibson, McLachlan has gained international acclaim for his intelligent and sensitive interpretations. He has performed as a soloist with most leading UK orchestras and has toured all five continents. His extensive repertoire includes over 40 concertos and 25 recital programmes. Notably, he has performed the complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle seven times and has given first performances of works by composers such as Martin Butler, Ronald Stevenson, Charles Camilleri, and Michael Parkin.

 

McLachlan has an extensive discography, with over 40 commercial recordings. His recordings of Russian composers like Kabalevsky, Khachaturian, and Shchedrin have received critical acclaim, including full star ratings and ‘rosette’ status in the Penguin Guide to CDs. In 2020, he recorded the complete piano works of Edward Gregson for Naxos, and in 2023, he released a five-CD box set of Geoffrey Allen’s complete piano sonatas.

 

In addition to his performance career, McLachlan is a dedicated educator. He has been Head of Keyboard at Chetham’s School of Music since 1997 and is a Professor of Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of the Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for Pianists, Europe’s largest summer school devoted exclusively to the piano.

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www.murraymclachlan.co.uk

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Wibi Soerjadi is a Dutch concert pianist and composer, born on March 2, 1970, in Leiden, Netherlands. He began his piano studies at the age of eleven with Bob Brouwer and later studied at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam under Jan Wijn. Soerjadi completed his studies ahead of schedule, graduating with the highest possible marks.

 

His early career was marked by significant achievements, including winning first prize at the National Princess Christina Concours in 1985 and at the National Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians in 1988. In 1989, he secured third prize at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht, becoming the youngest participant to reach the finals. Other accolades include the Elizabeth Everts Prize for Exceptionally Talented Musicians in 1990 and the Echo Klassik Award from the Deutsche Phonoakademie in 1998.

 

Soerjadi has performed in renowned concert halls worldwide, such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, and Carnegie Hall in New York. He has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras, including the Residentie Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra in Moscow.

 

In addition to his performing career, Soerjadi is a composer. His compositions, such as The Spirit of Sunrise and Dance of Devotion, have been performed at international events like the World Cup Dressage and the Aegon Challenge Cup. He also promotes classical music among young audiences and conducts masterclasses for emerging talents.

 

Soerjadi resides in Zeist, Netherlands, where he occasionally hosts private concerts at the Wulperhorst Salon.

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​www.soerjadi.com

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Chai Congcong is a Chinese pianist born in Xi’an. He began studying piano at a very young age with his mother and continued his formal training at the DongFang XingZhi Piano School under Professor Zheng Shu Xing. He then studied at the Shenzhen Art School with Dan Zhao Yi and Miao Xiao Yan. After completing high school, he was admitted to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano under the guidance of Professor Eleanor Wong.

 

Chai has won first prize at the 53rd Sorantin International Competition and has participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists including Leslie Howard, Paul Badura-Skoda, Malcolm Bilson, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Matti Raekallio, and Vladimir Krainev. He has performed extensively in cities including Lawrence, Fort Worth, Grand Junction, Hong Kong, Macao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai. His repertoire includes solo piano works, two-piano pieces, and major piano concertos, such as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, the “Yellow River” Piano Concerto, and Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. He has collaborated with conductors such as Robert Ward and Yondani Butt.

 

Chai has participated in prestigious festivals including the PianoTexas International Academy & Festival and Concerto Fest Vienna. He has received numerous scholarships and awards, including the Lee Shuk-chee Memorial Scholarship, Society of APA Non-Local Scholarship, Tom Lee Music Scholarship, CE Scholarship, Baring Private Equity Asia Scholarship, HKAPA Piano Alumni Scholarship, Capps Rogers Scholarship, and David & Gunda Hiebert Piano Scholarship.

 

Through his performances, collaborations, and international competition successes, Chai Congcong has established himself as a rising figure in the global piano scene, known for his technical precision, expressive artistry, and commitment to fostering classical music appreciation.

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Rixiang Huang is a Chinese-American concert pianist and educator, hailed for his expressive artistry and dynamic performances. Born and raised in Beijing, he began his piano studies at the age of seven and made his solo debut at twelve. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, his Master of Music from The Juilliard School under the guidance of Jerome Lowenthal and Matti Raekallio, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, studying with Jeffrey Kahane.

 

Huang has been recognized with numerous accolades, including first prizes at the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford and the Los Angeles International Liszt Piano Competition. His performances have captivated audiences across Asia, Europe, and the United States, with appearances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and the Hamamatsu ACT City Concert Hall in Japan. He has also collaborated with esteemed orchestras, including the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra.

 

In addition to his performing career, Huang is a dedicated educator. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Empire Music Academy in California and is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Pacific Stars International Piano Competition & Festival. His students have garnered prizes at various international and national competitions. Huang has also been invited to join the artist faculty at several esteemed institutions, including the Piano Concerto Festival, Paris International Music Academy, and Singapore Steinway Artists Masterclass in 2025.

 

As a Steinway Artist and Naxos recording artist, Huang’s discography includes works by Scarlatti, Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven. His recent album, Eternal Soul, released in 2023, has received critical acclaim.

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​www.rixianghuangpianist.com

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Congyu Wang is a Singaporean concert pianist renowned for his expressive artistry and dynamic performances. Born on January 7, 1992, in Singapore, he began playing the piano at the age of three under the tutelage of Sylvia Ng. At 16, he moved to Paris to pursue his musical studies, a decision met with initial resistance from his family. He earned a scholarship to attend the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris, where he studied with renowned French pianists Jean-Marc Luisada and Odile Catelin-Delangle. Later, he enrolled in the Schola Cantorum in Paris to continue his studies with Gabriel Tacchino, the only student of Francis Poulenc  .

 

Wang’s dedication to his craft led him to perform in over 800 recitals worldwide. He has collaborated with esteemed musicians such as Romain Leleu, Agnes Kallay, Giancarlo de Lorenzo, Elena Xanthoudakis, Grigor Palikarov, and Quatour Arsis  . In 2018, he founded the Piano Island Festival and the Piano Concerto Festival, aiming to inspire and educate young pianists. His discography includes two albums: Charme (2015), featuring works by Francis Poulenc, and Reflets (2018), dedicated to Claude Debussy.

 

In recognition of his contributions to classical music, Wang was named a Steinway Artist in 2022  . He currently resides in Réunion Island, France, where he continues to perform, teach, and promote classical music globally.

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www.congyuwang.com