Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation

16/02/2026

The Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation is delighted to announce that the Lewis Eady Junior National Piano Competition will take place in 2026.

This prestigious event is New Zealand’s pre-eminent piano competition for young pianists aged Intermediate and Secondary School. It provides an inspiring national platform for emerging talent and is made possible through the generous support of Lewis Eady Steinway NZ — New Zealand’s exclusive Steinway & Sons dealership.

We look forward to discovering exceptional young artists and sharing their musical journeys.

Entries open 1 May 2026.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clef.nz/2026-lewis-eady-junior-national-piano-competition

29/12/2025

Teaching isn’t the only thing, it’s everything. Steinway Artist Gary Graffman (1928–2025) himself learned from the greats: Vengerova, Serkin, Horowitz. He would go on to record with the "Big Five" orchestras, to stand up for civil rights in Mississippi, to recover from an injury to his right hand and play left-hand repertoire — and ultimately — to find his way inexorably to pedagogy, when he became teacher, then artistic director and then president at Curtis Institute, the All–Steinway School where he once studied. Graffman incredibly taught both Steinway Artists Lang Lang and Yuja Wang, among many others. Lang Lang shares that the lessons continue: "Mr. Graffman’s character was as pure and moving as a flowing mountain stream. He was the most caring, gentle, and kind-hearted teacher, dedicating his enthusiasm to every student. This sincerity and generosity have become the principles I uphold when teaching my own students."

📷 Robert Rinaldi; Courtesy of A. Jahn/Y. Cho

24/12/2025

Wishing you a happy holiday season from Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation🎼✨

15/12/2025

Congratulations to you all!

21/11/2025

In this article from Music Teacher Magazine, Dr Eugene Seow dives into the pros and cons of doing a Diploma: https://ow.ly/Bcut50XuaKl

18/11/2025

Our Scholarship winner with in Switzerland🎹🎼🥂

11/11/2025

$5,000 and the chance to perform with the Auckland Philharmonia? - This is your chance…

Applications are now open for the 2024 National String Competition and the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition.

If you're an NZ-based pianist or string player under the age of 26, then visit the following websites for more information. Applications will be open until 1st Aug (5pm)

STRINGS - https://michaelhillviolincompetition.co.nz/national-string-competition/
PIANO - https://www.clef.nz/lewis-eady-national-piano-competition



IMAGE: Adrian Malloch: 2022 Piano Finalists

10/11/2025

Congratulations! Shan Liu🫶🏻

Time to meet our young soloist who returns to perform with us again after dazzling audiences with Chopin's 2nd piano concerto in 2022... Make a mental note of his age before you continue to read the amazing things he has already achieved...!

🎹Shan Liu is a 15-year-old pianist and Year 11 student at Westlake Boys High School, who is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising talents in classical music under the guidance of renowned educator Stephen De Pledge.

🥇His journey to international acclaim is marked by a series of remarkable victories, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 8th Macao International Piano Competition, the Grand Gold Prize at the Pacific Rim International Music Competition, and the Gold Award at the GOCAA (Global Outstanding Chinese Artists Association) New York International Music Competition. Shan has also achieved First Place at prestigious events such as the César Franck International Piano Competition in Belgium, the Kings Peak International Music Competition in the USA, and the International Piano Competition for Young Musicians in The Netherlands.

🏆In 2023, he made history as the youngest-ever winner of the Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition and received the VAC (Variety Artists Club of New Zealand) Classical Music Award. In 2024, Shan was honoured with the GOCAA Young Artist Award and the AIMES Emerging Talent Award, and he was invited as a Featured Soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) for 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons and the Manukau Symphony Orchestra (MSO) for 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons. Shan won the First Place at the 2025 National Concerto Competition and became the youngest ever winner in the 57 years’ event history.

✈️In 2024, his international reputation expanded further when he became the first New Zealand young pianist invited to the prestigious Morningside Bridge Music Programme (MMB) at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, a fully funded, one-month program that offers mentorship from some of the world’s leading musicians.

🎻Shan has collaborated with many of New Zealand's leading orchestras, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) Up Close Concerts, Auckland Youth Orchestra, Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Symphony Orchestra, St. Matthews Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra Auckland, making his soloist debut at the age of nine.

Buy tickets here to hear Shan play Saint Saens Piano Concerto No. 5 live on 16 NovemberBaycourt Community and Arts Centrentre:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/bop-symphonia-presents-egyptian-piano-keys-to-the-future/tauranga

05/10/2025

🎹 Next up in the Lewis Eady Emerging Artists Series...
ALEX BAI💫

Recital:
Wednesday, 22 October | 7:30pm
Lewis Eady Steinway NZ

Tickets:
humanitix.com

Programme Highlights:
Bach – Prelude & Fugue in F minor
Beethoven – Appassionata Sonata
Ravel – Alborada del gracioso
Chopin – Nocturne in D-flat Major
Chopin – Ballade No. 4

At just 15, Alex is already the youngest-ever winner of the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition (2024) and 2nd Prize winner at the International Piano Competition Kronberg (2025).

Don’t miss this extraordinary young artist!

07/09/2025

🎻✨ Emerging Artists Series 2025

Join us on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:30 pm for an unforgettable recital featuring Hayden Chiu, a rising violin star and Year 10 student at Auckland Grammar School.

At just 15, Hayden has already performed at Carnegie Hall, served as NZSO National Youth Orchestra Associate Concertmaster, and won the Michael Hill National String Competition. He was also named a 2024 NZSO Emerging Artist.

📖 Programme highlights
🎶 Bach Solo Sonatas
🎶 Paganini Caprices
🎶 Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 (1st mvt)
🎶 Franck Violin Sonata
With pianist Rosemary Barnes 🎹

📍 Lewis Eady Steinway NZ, 75 Great South Road
🗓 Wednesday, Sept 17 | 7:30 pm

Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-emerging-artists-series-or-hayden-chiu

Come and be inspired by this extraordinary young musician!

24/04/2025

🎶 Join us on Wednesday, May 7th at 7:30pm for the Lewis Eady Emerging Artists Series recital featuring the talented Shan Liu.

📍 Lewis Eady Steinway NZ
🎟️ + details visit events.humanitix.com

https://events.humanitix.com/2025-emerging-artists-series-or-shan-liu

🎹 Secure your seat today!