According to Gramophone magazine’s website, 17-year-old pianist Ryan Wang from Vancouver, Canada, has been named the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024. A scholarship student at Eton College, Windsor, Wang performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in the final round of the competition, accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under the baton of Ben Gernon.
The final was presented by Jess Gillam, saxophonist and BBC Young Musician finalist in 2016. The jury included trumpeter Alison Balsom, pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench, and multi-instrumentalist and broadcaster Hannah Catherine Jones.
Ryan Wang began studying piano at the age of four and gave his first solo recital at Carnegie Hall at the age of five. In May 2024, he received his Artist Diploma from the École Normale de Musique de Paris and was also named the youngest-ever recipient of the Cziffra Foundation Prize.
Wang has been part of the Louis Vuitton Foundation’s “Piano New Generation” program during 2022–2023, and in February 2024, he won both First Prize and the Audience Award at the 18th Animato International Chopin Competition.
Speaking about his recent success, Wang said:
“It was an incredible experience — I still can’t believe all of this has happened! I’m so happy to be able to share my music with you, and I’m grateful for all the support. This competition has been an amazing journey, and I feel lucky to have met so many outstanding musicians.”
Judge Alison Balsom added:
“Ryan Wang is an extraordinary musician with a rare ability to connect deeply with the music. In the final round, it was clear to us that he was creating something magical. His flawless technique and sincere artistry are truly remarkable.”
Other finalists included Shlomi Shahaf (violinist) and Jackie Zhang (pianist and composer from Surrey).
Past winners of the BBC Young Musician Award include percussionist Jordan Ashman, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, violinist Nicola Benedetti, and clarinetist Mark Simpson.
To mark its 10th anniversary, the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition will be held in autumn 2024. The final will take place on 23 November at the Queen Elizabeth Hall during the London Jazz Festival, and will be broadcast on BBC Television.