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Eric Lu Wins 2025 International Chopin Competition

A decade after placing fourth at 17, the 27-year-old American crowns his rise.

Overview

  • The pianist received the gold medal and a first prize of €60,000, endowed by Poland’s president.
  • Canada’s Kevin Chen took silver with €40,000, and China’s Zitong Wang earned bronze with €35,000.
  • Fourth place was shared by Japan’s Kuwahara Shiori and China’s Tanyao Lu (€30,000 each), fifth by Malaysia’s Vincent Ong and Poland’s Piotr Alexewicz (€25,000), with the United States’ William Yang sixth (€20,000).
  • The top rankings again reflected the strong presence of East Asian artists and East Asian–heritage North Americans, with Alexewicz the only European among the first eight.
  • Founded in 1927 and held about every five years, the Chopin Competition focuses solely on Chopin’s works and often propels careers, as seen with 2021 winner Bruce Liu.