Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham Ching-tao, 29, won the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the US state of Texas earlier this month. He is the first pianist from Hong Kong to win this award. This achievement sets him on the path to global fame.
The announcement on June 7 of his victory followed two-and-a-half weeks of eager waiting. Live streams of the contest’s four tough rounds, with 28 competitors from 15 countries, received a combined 20 million views from 145 countries.
Jury chairman Paul Lewis read Sham’s name out to loud cheers in the packed Bass Performance Hall. The winner stepped onstage wearing a bow tie and a big smile to receive his gold medal and trophy.
Sham started playing the piano at the age of three with his piano teacher mother at home in Hong Kong. He began competing internationally at the age of 10 while attending Diocesan Boys’ School. He studied under Shirley Ip and Professor Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
His prodigious talent caught international attention early on. He was featured by British broadcaster Channel 4 in its 2009 documentary The World’s Greatest Musical Prodigies.
