Hugh's Goes Classical with Ryan Huang

Ryan Huang, 15, is one of Canada's leading young pianists. He is internationally recognized as a Young Steinway Artist and a Young Scholar of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. In 2026, he became the first Canadian pianist to win First Prize and the Audience Prize at the prestigious Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists (Junior Division). The same year, he was named one of CBC Music's 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.

Ryan has been selected for several of North America's premier young artist programs, including the Morningside Music Bridge Program, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and, beginning in Fall 2026, the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School in NYC.

A laureate of numerous international competitions, Ryan has received top prizes at the Nutcracker International Television Music Competition (Russia), the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth (Poland), the Jeune Chopin Competition (Switzerland), the Kaufman International Youth Piano Competition (United States), the Euregio Piano Award (Germany), as well as the Canadian Music Competition and the Steinway Junior Piano Competition in Canada.

Ryan made his debut at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium at the age of seven and gave his first solo recital at the Shanghai Symphony Hall at age eight. Since then, he has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Vidin Symphony Orchestra, Oakville Symphony Orchestra, and Oakville Chamber Orchestra, North York Concert Orchestra, Burlington New Millenium Symphony Orchestra Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, addition to orchestras throughout Italy and Poland.

In 2025, Ryan was invited by Lang Lang to perform an encore at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's 30th Anniversary Concert at Roy Thomson Hall, where he received a standing ovation. As a Young Scholar of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, he has also performed at international events, including a special concert on the Great Wall of China, after which he was named a Great Wall Young Ambassador. In 2026, the Town of Oakville recognized his artistic achievements and community contributions by naming him Oakville's Music Ambassador.

Ryan is an alumnus of the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. He currently studies with Dr. Michael Berkovsky, receives additional guidance and mentorship from Dr. Marilyn Engle, and studied with Dr. Olga Chichova during his formative years.

Beyond the concert stage, Ryan is a passionate volunteer who performs regularly for charity and teaches music to primary school students weekly. He remains dedicated to the philosophy that every child deserves the opportunity to explore the beauty of music and musical instruments.

Sunday October 18.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)

Piano Sonata in D major, K. 576

(15:00)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004

(arr. Ferruccio Busoni)

(15:30)

— Intermission —

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)

Images, Book I

(16:00)

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)

The Firebird (complete, piano version)

(12:00)

Johann Strauss II (1825–1899)

The Blue Danube

(arr. Adolf Schulz-Evler)

(7:00)