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A 21-year-old UWA music student is the only Australian selected to perform at a major international piano competition to be held in the Czech Republic.

Yiyun Loei, from the Perth suburb of Waterford, is to perform at next month's Leoš Janácek International Piano Competition.

The competition, for pianists under 25, is held every four years at the Janácek Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic.

Yiyun is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Music at The University of Western Australia, majoring in harp performance.  She has won several university awards and scholarships for her academic and performance achievements.  She has also completed majors in French and German.

In addition to piano and harp, Yiyun has studied violin, viola, and cello.  In 2004, she was awarded the Music Subject Exhibition for gaining the top mark in the State for TEE Music.

Yiyun is a student of UWA tutor Ms Jana Kovar and has been a prize winner at several piano competitions, including the Yamaha Australian Youth Piano Competition and the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod in Wales.  Her performance experience extends from solo to chamber and orchestral music.

The Leoš Janácek International Piano Competition runs from 8-13 September.  Yiyun's repertoire will include works by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Haydn, Janácek, Liszt, and Mozart, and will also feature Australian composers Elena Kats-Chernin and Carl Vine.

NB: News Editors/Chiefs of Staff:

Yiyun will perform a fundraising recital at UWA's Callaway Auditorium tomorrow, Saturday 30 August at 4.30pm.  Proceeds will go towards providing financial assistance for Yiyun to participate in the competition.  Entry to the concert is by $20 donation.

(For more details about the Leoš Janácek International Competition, visit https://hf.jamu.cz/english/leos-janacek-international-competition/2008.html NB: this site is Czech, but there is an English translation page, and the promo materials are in Czech and English).

Media references

Yiyun Loei  (+61 4) 05 008 125
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716