Chenxu Han, age 17 (China) — First Prize Senior Division
ClevelandClassical.com: What’s your favorite moment in Cleveland been?
Chenxu Han: I think my favorite moment, maybe it’s in the competition because I think the important thing is just never it’s a competition. We can know the friends and we can meet lots of people from all over the world. This is really wonderful experience. We practice together every day. We of course, compete every day, and we talk every day. We eat every day. This is really wonderful. I can learn a lot. I can meet lots of people from the world. And meet some new friends.
CC.com: You’re all living in the same building.
CH: Yeah. It’s really wonderful.
CC.com: Did you know any of the people before?
CH: Actually, no. We only know each other since we’ve been here. It’s really great.
CC.com: How did it feel when they announced the second prize winner and you realized you had won?
CH: You can’t get too excited, but to be honest, this was really the most exciting moment for me, because everyone wants to win the first prize. But when I knew the second prize is not me and third prize is also not me, of course, it’s very, very exciting. It’s also an honor.
CC.com: You looked so calm through every one of your performances how did you deal with the nerves? Do you get nervous?
CH: Of course. Nervousness is a common thing for every pianist. Everyone will be nervous because we’re human. But I think the important thing is that nervous is something good because it brings us energy and makes us more concentrated. And sometimes I enjoy the feeling of nervousness. I think that’s the charm of the live performance.
CC.com: Yes. There’s nothing like a live performance. For your solo round repertoire you played the Mozart Fantasia — which was beautiful — and I really enjoyed the Mephisto Waltz. And wow, the Prokofiev was amazing. Do you enjoy the music of all three of those composers?
CH: Actually, Mozart is one of the closest pieces to my heart, but I love them all, especially the Mephisto. I have played this piece for about five years, so it’s older repertoire. But yes, I love them all.
CC.com: For the chamber music round you played the Brahms B major trio: do you play a lot of chamber music?
CH: Not a lot, but I have a little team in my school and I have played chamber music for three or four years. We have lots of fun. I enjoy playing chamber music, I think it’s really wonderful.
CC.com: You looked like you were having a lot of fun with Jinjoo and Max.
CH: Yes, they’re really wonderful and talented musicians. I am really glad to have met them.
CC.com: Did you learn something from them? Were they easy to work with?
CH: Very easy, and I learned lots of things. I explored a lot of new things in the piece.
CC.com: Cool. And your master class round: I personally enjoyed it very much.
CH: Wow. Thanks.
CC.com: Of course. I’ve been to many master classes and know how they operate, but I’d never seen Jean-Yves give a master class before.
CH: Me neither.
CC.com: Did you enjoy the experience?
CH: I enjoyed it and I think it was a great part of this competition. Of course, this is the first time to have the master class in the competition — I haven’t seen the master class included in a competition. It’s unique and really helpful to me. Of course, this is really good for our competitors because it shows our ability to learn.
CC.com: He wasn’t letting you get away with things either.
CH: For sure!
CC.com: You’ve played a lot of concertos: Has Beethoven No.1 always been on your list of concertos?
CH: Yes, Because Beethoven is one of my favorite composers. I’ve played Beethoven’s First and the Fourth Concerto, but I love them all. And the orchestra and the conductor were really wonderful. During the rehearsal, I explored lots of really amazing moments and amazing things. And as always I found some new things in the piece.
CC.com: I wanted to ask you about the introduction, it’s not as long as Chopin No. 1 but you still have quite a bit of time to sit there and listen to what the orchestra is doing. What do you think about during that time?
CH: I think this is very important because, you know, in the concerto, some people just like to hear the piano part. But I think everything in a concerto is an important part of the music. So before the piano entrance, I think the orchestra part, the tutti part is a very important part of music. And I enjoy it. Just to be on the stage and enjoy the orchestra, I think that is a beautiful moment.
CC.com: Well, again, congratulations.
CH: Thank you very much.
CC.com: I have to ask, you have a super sense of smell. At least this is what it says on the card. Is that true or were you just making something up?
CH: Maybe half just to be funny, but it is true because sometimes when I’m at home or some place maybe practicing or in my room I can smell what meals I will eat today. The kitchen is really far away but I can tell what the meal is.
And lots of times when people just walk by me or shake hands with me and I can tell where they’ve just been — it’s really strange sometimes.
CC.com: Are there other musicians in your family?
CH: My mom is a piano teacher And my dad is a composer.
CC.com: Did you study piano with your mother?
CH: At the beginning, when I was five, and then after one year I had my own piano teacher.
CC.com: Do you play any of your father’s music?
CH: Yeah. I think twice he composed a piano piece for me and it’s a real pleasure to play them.
CC.com: Your English is very fluent.
CH: Thank you. Actually, I love American movies and American songs. I’m also a fan of learning languages, and I kind of like to explore different accents.
CC.com: What are your impressions of Cleveland?
CH: I think it’s a wonderful city. I love it because I think the pace of life is slow and relaxed. So far I haven’t had lots of time to walk around the city but I will this afternoon and tomorrow. And I think I will discover more beautiful and wonderful things.
Yeah, I love this city, because my hometown is also a small city like Cleveland.
CC.com: I know Mitchell’s ice cream is awaiting you, so we should probably let you get going. But thank you so much for talking.
CH: Thank you so much too, it’s my pleasure.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com August 5, 2026
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