City of residence : New York
An eloquent proponent of the original works and virtuosic transcriptions of Franz Liszt, Derek was awarded 2nd prize at the 12th International Liszt Competition (Liszt Utrecht) in 2022. His final round performance with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic conducted by Christian Reif was hailed as “spectacular” by de Volkskrant. The prize, which includes three years of concert engagements, followed on the heels of 1st prize at the inaugural New York International Liszt Competition in 2021, for which he was awarded an all-Liszt debut recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Recent performances include a five-concert tour of the Netherlands; debuts for the Fazioli Concert Hall series in Italy, the Nohant Festival Chopin in France, the American Liszt Society in New York, and the Florida Keys Concert Association; and return engagements at the Rome Chamber Music Festival in Italy, the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, and the Moab Music Festival in Utah.
Derek holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School, where he received a Kovner Fellowship and the Joseph W. Polisi Prize for exemplifying the school’s values of the artist as citizen. His principal teachers were Stephen Hough, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and Matti Raekallio. He continues studies at the Yale School of Music as an Artist Diploma candidate in the studio of Boris Slutsky.
Principal teachers
- Boris Slutsky 2022 – present
- Stephen Hough 2020 – 2022
- Yoheved Kaplinsky 2014 – 2022
Major Competitions
- 2nd prize ex æquo, Liszt Utrecht, 2022
- 1st prize, New York International Franz Liszt Competition, 2021
Program
FIRST ROUND: RECITAL
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Fantasia No. 4 in C minor, K. 475
Béla Bartók
3 Burlesques, Op. 8c
No. 1 Perpatvar (Quarrel) • No. 2 Kicsit ázottan (A little tipsy) • No. 3 Molto vivo, capriccioso
Franz Liszt
Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418
SEMIFINAL: CHAMBER MUSIC
Johannes Brahms
Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Allegro
SEMIFINAL: RECITAL
Francis Poulenc
Improvisation No. 1 in B minor • Nocturne No. 4 in C minor (Bal fantôme) • Improvisation No. 6 in B-flat major
Barbara Assiginaak
Mzizaakok Miiniwaa Mzizaakoonsak (Horseflies and Deerflies)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)
Allegro • Scherzo (Assai vivace) • Adagio sostenuto • Largo – Allegro risoluto
FINAL: CONCERTO
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito • Andantino semplice – Prestissimo • Allegro con fuoco
Adopt a Musician
The presence of Derek Wang in Montreal
is generously supported by Laurent Verrault
