On the first day of the 7th “New Tang Dynasty International Piano Competition” in New York, on October 15th, Taiwanese contestant Lu Shuye performed at the Merkin Concert Hall–Kaufman Music Center in Manhattan with ease and successfully advanced to the next round of the piano competition.
He expressed his happiness, saying, “This is a pretty good start, and I hope I can continue to feel so comfortable on stage in the following performances!”
This marks Lu Shuye’s second participation in the “New Tang Dynasty International Piano Competition.” Recalling his first experience in the competition back in 2019, he mentioned facing various challenges due to being new to the U.S. and feeling out of place, almost forgetting the details of that performance.
Returning to the competition stage this year, Lu Shuye feels more satisfied with his performance, stating, “I believe there is room for improvement in various aspects, but at least I felt comfortable on stage today.”
Lu Shuye admitted that participating in the New Tang Dynasty piano competition holds a special significance for him, as it helps him define his position in life.
Starting to play the piano at the age of six, Lu Shuye has been studying the instrument for about twenty years now. Last year, he obtained a master’s degree from the world-renowned National Vienna Music and Performing Arts University and completed his mandatory military service in Taiwan. Currently transitioning from the campus to society, Lu Shuye finds himself at a crossroads in life.
“As one reaches a certain age, doubts about whether this profession truly suits oneself naturally arise,” Lu Shuye remarked. “I hope to use this opportunity to rediscover myself on stage.” He aims to gain a better understanding of his own skills and those of other performers during the competition to ascertain his suitability for the stage.
Observing the performances of other contestants, Lu Shuye noted that everyone seemed to play with great freedom. He encouraged all participants to excel, saying, “Let’s all perform well, and I look forward to meeting in the semi-finals.”
The “New Tang Dynasty International Piano Competition” aims to promote the pure, good, and beautiful traditional piano art with strict requirements regarding the competition repertoire. What sets this competition apart is that each contestant in the next round must perform the designated piece, “Holy Grace.”
This music piece, authorized for adaptation by Shen Yun Artistic Director D.F., uses Western piano melodies to express the charm of Chinese classical music and the essence of traditional culture. Lu Shuye, participating for the second time, is familiar with this rule, yet he found a new sense of accomplishment while practicing “Holy Grace.”
“It encompasses many ‘aspects,'” Lu Shuye said. “It seems not to have a unified objective, but indeed one can sense some reflections of Chinese traditional culture.” Lu Shuye enjoyed this exploration and discovery experience, stating, “It offers us a lot of freedom to express ourselves.”
For everyone, including Lu Shuye, “Holy Grace” is an unknown piece, awaiting exploration, comprehension, and sharing with others. He expressed that the biggest realization from “Holy Grace” is the transition from insignificant to grand, from personal to universal feelings.
“It starts with a smaller focus and then expands to a larger scale, eventually encompassing the entire world or even the cosmos,” Lu Shuye eagerly anticipates performing this piece in the next round of the competition.