Four Canadians make the cut for prestigious Chopin Competition in Warsaw

Four Canadians to Compete at 2025 Chopin Competition in Warsaw 

Canada is punching well above its weight at one of the world’s most prestigious classical music events: four Canadian pianists have been selected to compete in the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland, this fall. 

Out of a record-breaking 642 global applicants, just 85 pianists from 20 countries have been invited to participate in the main stages of the competition, which will run from October 2 to 21. Among them are Canadian pianists Kevin Chen, Eric Guo, Athena Deng, and Ryan Wang—each a rising star with a formidable list of accolades to their name. 

The Chopin Competition, held every five years and dedicated solely to the works of the Polish composer, is widely regarded as a career-launching event. Past laureates include legends like Martha Argerich and Krystian Zimerman. To be selected is already a high honour; to win can change the trajectory of a pianist’s life. 

The Canadians 

Kevin Chen, 19, is a prodigy from Calgary with an already jaw-dropping international resume. He won the 2023 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv, among other major titles, and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Chopin and His Europe Festival, and the La Roque d’Anthéron festival in France. He currently studies with Professor Arie Vardi in Hannover. 

Eric Guo, born in Toronto, has performed with leading orchestras such as the UK’s Royal Philharmonic and Japan’s Bach Collegium. A graduate of The Glenn Gould School, he will enter the Artist Diploma Program this fall. Guo has trained with a who’s-who of piano legends and is a two-time CBC “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” honouree. 

Athena Deng, originally from Vancouver, has played with orchestras across North America, Europe, and Asia since her debut at age 11. Now studying at Oberlin College under Dang Thai Son and Stanislav Ioudenitch, she recently won second prize at the 2024 Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin International Piano Competition and is also a seasoned chamber musician. 

Ryan Wang, 17, from Vancouver, already boasts international wins including the 2024 Prix du Piano Bern and the 2023 Animato International Piano Competition (Chopin edition). He has performed everywhere from the Fondation Louis Vuitton to Windsor Castle, and was recently named the BBC Young Musician of the Year and a “Rising Star” by Classic FM. 

A Global Stage 

The 19th edition of the Chopin Competition kicks off with an official inauguration on October 2 at Warsaw's National Philharmonic. Competitive rounds begin October 3 and culminate in a gala concert on October 21, where the winner will receive a gold medal and a €60,000 first prize. A post-competition concert tour across Europe, Asia, and the Americas awaits the laureates. 

This year, the most represented countries are China, Japan, and Poland. But with four formidable pianists, Canada is proudly in the mix—and all eyes will be on its quartet of contenders come October. 

The last edition of the Chopin Competition, held in 2021, was won by Canadian pianist Bruce Liu, who dazzled audiences and jury alike with his virtuosity, poise, and unmistakable flair for Chopin. Born in Paris and raised in Montreal, Liu became the first Canadian to win the top prize at the prestigious Warsaw-based competition, instantly catapulting him to international stardom. Since his win, he’s performed with leading orchestras around the globe, recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, and become a global ambassador for the music of Chopin — a tough act to follow, but an inspiring precedent for this year’s Canadian hopefuls. 

For a complete list of competitors for the 2025 Chopin Competition click here.