Participants These were the 24 candidates from 15 countries who participated in the YPF European Piano Competition 2022 – Grand Prix Youri Egorov! The 24 candidates have been selected by the pre-selection jury, consisting of Thomas Beijer, Ton Demmers, Christiaan Kuyvenhoven and Hanna Shybayeva, from the 48 applications (19 countries) that YPF received for the YPF European Piano Competition 2022. Aarón Ormaza Vera Aarón Ormaza Vera (1995, Ecuador) began playing the piano at an early age. He took lessons at the Conservatorio Sergei Rachmaninov for most of his Read more » Alexander Jansen Alexander Jansen (2005, The Netherlands) has been enchanted by music since he was 3 years old. He was barely 3 years old when he first Read more » Alexandra Kaptein Alexandra Kaptein (1999, The Netherlands) started piano lessons at the age of 5. At the age of six she already won her first prize at Read more » Antoniu Nagy Antoniu Nagy (2000, Romania) is currently studying piano at the National Music Academy ‘Gheorghe Dima’ under the guidance of Daniel Goiti. At the same time he’s Read more » Augustinas Eidukonis Augustinas Eidukonis (1995, Lithuania) has been learning at the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Arts since 2002, in professor Vida – Emilija Prekerytė’s class. In 2011, he Read more » Brecht Valckenaers Brecht Valckenaers (2000, Belgium) likes to make people part of his passion for music. Playing existing music and creating new music are important elements in Read more » Carlos Marín Rayo Carlos Marín Rayo (1994, Spain) is currently studying with Frank van de Laar at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Previously, his main mentors were Mariana Gurkova, Read more » Dora Petkovic Dora Petkovic (1996, Croatia) is currently is studying a Master program specialized in solo piano performance at Musik-Akademie FHNW Basel with professor Filippo Gamba. In 2019, she Read more » Florian Verweij Florian Verweij (1997, The Netherlands) studies as a master student with Naum Grubert at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he graduated with the highest remarks Read more » Francesco Maccarrone Francesco Maccarrone (1997, Italy) studied piano from an early age, having inherited a passion for music from his uncle Domenico Clapasson, a pianist and composer. Read more » Germán García Pérez Germán García Pérez (1996, Spain) began his musical career in Granada with the teachers Andrei Reznik and Javier Herreros. His studies continued in Badajoz at Read more » Jacopo Giovannini Jacopo Giovannini (1997, Italy) starts playing the piano at the age of 4, at 5 wins his first competition with international jury and at 6 he Read more » Juan Pedro García Oliva Juan Pedro García Oliva (2001, Spain) began studying piano at the age of eight in the music school in his hometown. In 2013, he started Read more » Leah Nicholson Leah Nicholson (2001, United Kingdom) began studying with Galina Sandovskaya in St Petersburg, Russia, before continuing her musical education at Chetham’s School of Music in Read more » Marta Mata Marta Mata (1997, Portugal) started playing piano at the age of eight and one year later she entered the Conservatory of Palmela, in Portugal. She Read more » Noah Zhou Noah Zhou (2001, United Kingdom) began learning piano at age 5 with Tra Nguyen before moving on to study with Hilary Coates. Since initially being awarded Read more » Noora Ylönen Noora Ylönen (1995, Finland) is currently doing her second Master’s degree in Folkwang Universität Der Künste under the guidance of Prof. Henri Sigfridsson. Earlier she has Read more » Pavel Tesík Pavel Těšík (1996, Czech Republic) studied piano at the Pavel Josef Vejvanovský Conservatory in Kroměříž with Ondřej Hubáček. Then he continued his studies at the Janáček Read more » Pavle Krstic Pavle Krstic (1998, Bulgary) is an Austrian-based pianist. He is currently a post-graduate student of Prof. Pavel Gililov, as well as a PhD candidate at Read more » Radu Ratering Radu Ratering (2004, The Netherlands) started taking piano lessons at the age of 7 after he heard Radu Lupu playing in the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. He Read more » Rakhadin Yarmetov Rakhadin Yarmetov (1996, Russia) was educated at Music College named after A.Scriabin, Elektrostal, Moscow Region (2011-2015), Gnesins Academy of Music, Moscow (2015-2017, Bachelor’s degree with teacher Vladimir Read more » Shane van Neerden Shane van Neerden (1999, United States) has appeared as soloist on stages in Europe as well as in the United States. In the Netherlands, he Read more » Tom De Beuckelaer Tom De Beuckelaer (1999, Belgium) is regarded as the leading young pianist of his generation in Belgium. He began performing in public since age six Read more » Victor Naranjo Pérez Victor Naranjo Pérez (1996, Spain) began studying piano at the age of 7 with his mother. He continued his studies at the Conservatory of Music of Read more »
Aarón Ormaza Vera Aarón Ormaza Vera (1995, Ecuador) began playing the piano at an early age. He took lessons at the Conservatorio Sergei Rachmaninov for most of his Read more »
Alexander Jansen Alexander Jansen (2005, The Netherlands) has been enchanted by music since he was 3 years old. He was barely 3 years old when he first Read more »
Alexandra Kaptein Alexandra Kaptein (1999, The Netherlands) started piano lessons at the age of 5. At the age of six she already won her first prize at Read more »
Antoniu Nagy Antoniu Nagy (2000, Romania) is currently studying piano at the National Music Academy ‘Gheorghe Dima’ under the guidance of Daniel Goiti. At the same time he’s Read more »
Augustinas Eidukonis Augustinas Eidukonis (1995, Lithuania) has been learning at the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Arts since 2002, in professor Vida – Emilija Prekerytė’s class. In 2011, he Read more »
Brecht Valckenaers Brecht Valckenaers (2000, Belgium) likes to make people part of his passion for music. Playing existing music and creating new music are important elements in Read more »
Carlos Marín Rayo Carlos Marín Rayo (1994, Spain) is currently studying with Frank van de Laar at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Previously, his main mentors were Mariana Gurkova, Read more »
Dora Petkovic Dora Petkovic (1996, Croatia) is currently is studying a Master program specialized in solo piano performance at Musik-Akademie FHNW Basel with professor Filippo Gamba. In 2019, she Read more »
Florian Verweij Florian Verweij (1997, The Netherlands) studies as a master student with Naum Grubert at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he graduated with the highest remarks Read more »
Francesco Maccarrone Francesco Maccarrone (1997, Italy) studied piano from an early age, having inherited a passion for music from his uncle Domenico Clapasson, a pianist and composer. Read more »
Germán García Pérez Germán García Pérez (1996, Spain) began his musical career in Granada with the teachers Andrei Reznik and Javier Herreros. His studies continued in Badajoz at Read more »
Jacopo Giovannini Jacopo Giovannini (1997, Italy) starts playing the piano at the age of 4, at 5 wins his first competition with international jury and at 6 he Read more »
Juan Pedro García Oliva Juan Pedro García Oliva (2001, Spain) began studying piano at the age of eight in the music school in his hometown. In 2013, he started Read more »
Leah Nicholson Leah Nicholson (2001, United Kingdom) began studying with Galina Sandovskaya in St Petersburg, Russia, before continuing her musical education at Chetham’s School of Music in Read more »
Marta Mata Marta Mata (1997, Portugal) started playing piano at the age of eight and one year later she entered the Conservatory of Palmela, in Portugal. She Read more »
Noah Zhou Noah Zhou (2001, United Kingdom) began learning piano at age 5 with Tra Nguyen before moving on to study with Hilary Coates. Since initially being awarded Read more »
Noora Ylönen Noora Ylönen (1995, Finland) is currently doing her second Master’s degree in Folkwang Universität Der Künste under the guidance of Prof. Henri Sigfridsson. Earlier she has Read more »
Pavel Tesík Pavel Těšík (1996, Czech Republic) studied piano at the Pavel Josef Vejvanovský Conservatory in Kroměříž with Ondřej Hubáček. Then he continued his studies at the Janáček Read more »
Pavle Krstic Pavle Krstic (1998, Bulgary) is an Austrian-based pianist. He is currently a post-graduate student of Prof. Pavel Gililov, as well as a PhD candidate at Read more »
Radu Ratering Radu Ratering (2004, The Netherlands) started taking piano lessons at the age of 7 after he heard Radu Lupu playing in the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. He Read more »
Rakhadin Yarmetov Rakhadin Yarmetov (1996, Russia) was educated at Music College named after A.Scriabin, Elektrostal, Moscow Region (2011-2015), Gnesins Academy of Music, Moscow (2015-2017, Bachelor’s degree with teacher Vladimir Read more »
Shane van Neerden Shane van Neerden (1999, United States) has appeared as soloist on stages in Europe as well as in the United States. In the Netherlands, he Read more »
Tom De Beuckelaer Tom De Beuckelaer (1999, Belgium) is regarded as the leading young pianist of his generation in Belgium. He began performing in public since age six Read more »
Victor Naranjo Pérez Victor Naranjo Pérez (1996, Spain) began studying piano at the age of 7 with his mother. He continued his studies at the Conservatory of Music of Read more »