Alexander Yau

Alexander Yau

Alexander Yau, an eminent young Australian pianist, has developed himself as a versatile musician incorporating his many musical talents as a chamber musician, vocalist, conductor, and composer. 

He has performed as soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and SBS Youth Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s first three concerti, as well as the mighty Brahms Concerto No. 2 with the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra. He has given solo and chamber performances at the Canberra International Music Festival in Australia, FOCUS Festival in New York, International Mendelssohn Akademie in Leipzig, and in notable venues such as Polish Embassy of Australia, City Recital Hall Angel’s Place, Troldhaugen in Norway, Australian Pavilion at Shanghai Expo, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York. In 2020, he founded his own chamber orchestra and conducted Mozart’s Concerto No. 23 from the piano in the group’s inaugural concert. This year, he released his first album in collaboration with clarinetist Deborah de Graff, featuring his own compositions and works by other Australian composers. 

Alexander obtained his Master’s degree at The Juilliard School, studying under Professor Matti Raekallio. He now holds the role of collaborative pianist at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and causal repetiteur/assistant conductor at Opera Australia. For his upcoming engagements in 2022/23, he has been invited to give lieder recitals presented by the Sydney Schubert Society, where he will sing and accompany himself from the piano. 

Virtual First Round

J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, No. 14 in f-sharp minor, BWV 883

Beethoven: Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2

I. Allegro vivace

II. Largo appassionato

III. Scherzo. Allegretto

IV. Rondo. Grazioso

Liszt: Étude No. 2, “La leggierezza.” S. 144

Tchaikovsky-Rachmaninoff: Lullaby, Op. 16, No. 1

Scriabin: Etude No. 5 in c-sharp minor, Op. 42

In-Person Second Round

Scriabin: Sonata No. 2 in g-sharp minor, Op. 19

I. Andante

II. Presto

Carl Vine: Resolve

Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales

I. Modéré—très franc

II. Assez lent—avec une expression intense

III. Modéré

IV. Assez animé

V. Presque lent—dans un sentiment intime

VI. Vif

VII. Moins vif

VIII. Épilogue: lent

Chopin: Sonata No. 3 in b minor, Op. 58

I. Allegro maestoso

II. Scherzo: Molto vivace

III. Largo

IV. Finale: Presto non tanto

Semifinal Round – Chamber Music

Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100

I. Allegro amabile

II. Andante tranquillo—Vivace—Andante—Vivace di più—Andante—Vivace

III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andante)

Final Round

Prokofiev: Concerto No. 2 in g minor, Op. 16

I. Andantino—Allegretto

II. Scherzo: Vivace

III. Intermezzo: Allegro moderato

IV. Finale: Allegro tempestoso

2022 Participants

Meet the People!

Recognizing the Board of Directors, distinguished jury, guest artists, competitors, finalists, and more.