Paul Ji (born 2004) is an American pianist.

Paul Ji
Winning the Prodiges finals.
Paul Ji wins Prodiges 2019
Born2004 (age 19–20)
AwardsWinner of the International Steinway Competition 7 times between 2010 and 2018
Berlin Rising Stars Grand Prix
Prodiges Saison 6
Distinction of Honorary Bellifontain
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Websitepaulji.com

Early life

edit

Paul Ji was born in Chicago.[1] His mother, Xiaowei Rose Luo, is a professor at INSEAD.[2] Paul Ji started his musical journey when he was just between 4 and 5 years old.[3] His elder sister Esther had a big impact on his interest in piano, as she also played the instrument.[4]

At the age of 12, he was under the instruction of Elizabeth Cooper at the prestigious Schola Cantorum in Paris, then at École Normale de musique de Paris with teacher Jean-Bernard Pommier.[4]

He lives in Fontainebleau, France.[5]

Ji is a Steinway artist.[6]

Education

edit

Ji currently attends Yale University.[7]

Competitions and awards

edit

Concerts

edit

Played Liszt 2 with the ECSO, conducted by Leandro Silvera, in the Barbican Complex.

Prodiges

edit

On January 2, 2020, he won season 6 of the French classical music talent show Prodiges, for which he was in the musicians category.[8] In the semi-final, he played the Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, moving to the finals where he played Chopin's Polonaise No. 6 Opus 53.[9] He won the competition and was awarded the trophy from concert pianist Lang Lang, with prize money of 10 thousand euros.[8]

He was awarded the distinction of Bellifontain d’honneur from the mayor of Fontainebleau.[10]

Charities and project

Paul Ji regularly played in the palliative care unit of the Fontainebleau hospital, wishing through music to help people in need.[11] In January 2021, he launched the project called "Music for Good" in French: "Musique pour le bien" which aims to share music with people in need, and to encourage other musicians who wish bring change to the world. In the context of the health crisis, he is notably organizing a virtual concert for the New Year.[12] This initiative receives the Khemka award for social impact from Eton College.[13]

Albums

edit

Paul has recently released his album Piano by Warner Classics, after his win in Prodiges.[1][8] He has also accompanied Sarah Brightman in her album France.[14]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Piano - Prodiges Saison 6 | Warner Classics". www.warnerclassics.com. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  2. ^ "Xiaowei Rose Luo - Faculty Profile". INSEAD. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  3. ^ "Bio – Paul Ji". Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  4. ^ a b "Paul ("Prodiges") : "J'aimerais intégrer la Royal Academy of Music de Grande-Bretagne"". tvmag.lefigaro.fr. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  5. ^ admin, About. "LIMNEWS:Paul Ji, winner of "Prodigies": "I will release an album in 2020" – Paul Ji". Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  6. ^ "Paul Ji - Steinway & Sons". www.steinway.com. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  7. ^ "Yale Daily News - "Voices of Yale: Paul Ji and Glory"".
  8. ^ a b c "Prodiges: Paul, 15 ans, remporte la finale de la saison 6". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  9. ^ Mermin, Isabelle (26 November 2020). "" "Prodiges" de retour pour une édition festive "". tvmag.lefigaro.fr. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  10. ^ "De Chicago à Fontainebleau, l'incroyable parcours de Paul Ji, gagnant de l'émission "Prodiges"". leparisien.fr (in French). 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  11. ^ à 21h57, Par Faustine Léo Le 9 janvier 2020 (2020-01-09). "De Chicago à Fontainebleau, l'incroyable parcours de Paul Ji, gagnant de l'émission "Prodiges"". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2022-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ à 19h18, Par Faustine Léo Le 8 janvier 2021; À 19h22, Modifié Le 8 Janvier 2021 (2021-01-08). "Fontainebleau : le prodige du piano Paul Ji monte en gamme". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2022-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "The Khemka Social Impact Prize 2021". Eton College. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  14. ^ "Sarah Brightman lance l'album France porté par le duo avec Florent Pagny". Concertlive.fr actualité concerts et festivals (in French). 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
edit