Yiyun Loei, a UWA music student, was the only Australian selected to perform at a recent major international piano competition held in the Czech Republic.

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

21 year old Yiyun is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Music at UWA, 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 has been a prize winner at several other 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 ran from 8-13 September. Yiyun's repertoire included works by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Haydn, Janácek, Liszt, and Mozart, and also featured Australian composers Elena Kats-Chernin and Carl Vine.