Three Medalists, One Piano: The Shigeru Kawai at the 2025 Chopin Competition
The 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition is the most prestigious piano competition in the world. Held every five years in Warsaw, it's where the next generation of concert artists is made — and where their instrument choice carries real weight.
In October 2025, three of the top six prize winners chose the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX.
The Medalists
- Zitong Wang (China) — 3rd Prize and the Krystian Zimerman Award for Best Sonata performance
- Piotr Alexewicz (Poland) — 5th Prize
- Vincent Ong (Malaysia) — 5th Prize
In 2025, 21 of 84 main-stage pianists chose the Shigeru Kawai. By Stage 2, the SK-EX held second place in popularity — chosen by 11 of the 40 advancing pianists
The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX has served as the company's flagship concert grand since its debut in 2001. At the 2021 edition, pianist Alexander Gadjiev won 2nd Prize on a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX, cementing the instrument's place among the concert grands capable of carrying a top-tier finish.
In Zitong Wang's Words
After her 3rd-Prize finish, Wang described why she selected the SK-EX for her program:
"My repertoire needed more brilliance in the top register and a darker feeling in the bass — not just loudness, but character... I felt that only the Kawai piano could deliver that... One quality I truly loved was that it gave me a different character in every octave... My touch felt very easy while playing."
Her teacher — Dang Thai Son, the 1980 Chopin Competition winner and a juror in this edition — confirmed the fit after her first round: "I think Kawai was a great choice for you."
Hear It Yourself
Watch the performances above and listen to what three of the world's top young pianists heard when they sat down at the SK-EX.