The Shanghai International Musician Competition 2025 is a new international competition jointly created by Savonlinna Music Academy and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. This unique competition challenges contestants to showcase their versatility, not only as solo pianists but also as chamber musicians and Lieder pianists. Additionally, contestants must rehearse, perform and conduct from the keyboard a Mozart concerto.
”The competition aims to recognize talented individuals who possess a deep musicality and the skill to fully utilise a pianist’s abitilies. It highlights those who can navigate life’s spiritual challenges through music.”
Ralf Gothóni, Chairman of the Jury and initiator of the competition.
Rounds
20-24 August 2025, Online Video Round – Savonlinna
30-31 October 2025, Semifinal 1 Chamber Music – Quanzhou
3 November 2025 Semifinal 2 Lied – Quanzhou
10 November 2025 Final – Shanghai
All rounds where streamed online and can be found in YouTube at
Savonlinna Music Academy
Contestants Semifinals and Final
Semifinal 1 Chamber Music
Ruggiero FIORELLA (Italy)
Sonja KOWOLLIK (Poland, Germany)
Edward LEUNG (USA)
Selim MAZARI (France)
Tomonori MURAKAMI (Japan)
José NAVARRO-SILBERSTEIN (Germany, Bolivia)
Robert NEUMANN (Germany)
Nikolas PAPPAS (Greece)
Jeongro PARK (South Korea)
Boyang SHI (China)
Julian TREVELYAN (UK)
Yuxuan WANG (China)
Matteo WEBER (Germany)
Lingfei XIE (China)
Chaojun YANG (China)
Lin YE (China)
Baolong ZHANG (China)
Hao ZHU (China)
Ruiyang Leon CHEN (New Zealand)
Arthur COATALEN (France)
Semifinal 2 Lied
Sonja KOWOLLIK (Poland, Germany)
Edward LEUNG (USA)
Selim MAZARI (France)
Boyang SHI (China)
Chaojun YANG (China)
Ruiyang Leon CHEN (New Zealand)
Arthur COATALEN (France)
Final
Sonja KOWOLLIK (Poland, Germany)
Selim MAZARI (France)
Lingfei XIE (China)
Arthur COATALEN (France)
LAUREATES
1st Prize: €21,000
ARTHUR COATALEN (FRANCE)
2nd Prize: €16,000
LINGFEI XIE (CHINA)
3rd Prize: €14,000
SELIM MAZARI (FRANCE)
4th Prize: €8,000
SONJA KOWOLLIK (POLAND, GERMANY)
Additionally the laureates may receive gifts, grants and concert invitations.
Savonlinna Music Academy has invited the laureates to Savonlinna in Summer 2026 for masterclasses and concerts.
HONORARY COMMITTEE
Dona Paloma O´Shea (Spain)
President of the Albeniz Foundation
President of the Escuela Superior de la Musica, Reina Sofia, Madrid
Prof. Changyong Liao (China)
Baritone, President of the Conservatory of Music, Shanghai
SAVONLINNA JURY
Momo Kodama (Japan)
Prof. University of Music, Karlsruhe
Eldar Nebolsin (Uzbekistan)
Prof. Hanns Eisler University, Berlin
Matti Raekallio (Finland; Chairman)
Faculty Emeritus, Juilliard School, NY
Valeria Resjan (Armenia)
Pianist, Sibelius Academy, Helsinki
Yingdi Sun (China)
Prof. & Deputy Director of the Piano Department,
Conservatory of Music, Shanghai
SHANGHAI JURY
Peter Csaba (Romania, France)
Conductor, violinist
Gerald Fauth (Germany)
Pianist & Director of the University of Music, Leipzig
Ralf Gothóni (Finland, Germany; Chairman)
Pianist, conductor
François-Frédéric Guy (France)
Pianist, conductor
Harmut Höll (Germany)
Liederpianist
Chen Jiang (China)
Prof. & Deputy Director of the Piano Department, Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Okko Kamu (Finland, Spain)
Conductor, violinist
Dejan Lazić (Croatia)
Pianist, conductor