Outstanding Performers and Winners

Grand Prize & Best Piano Concerto Performance Award

Alessandro Piccichè, Pianist

Alessandro Piccichè was born in Marsala (Sicily, Italy) on April 12, 2013, into a family of musicians.
He began his piano studies at the age of 4, under the guidance of his parents, pianists Domenico
Piccichè and Nina Gallo, and later at the Palermo Conservatory under the guidance of Maestro
Antonio Sottile. He participated, as a soloist, in piano masterclasses held by renowned virtuosos such
as Michele Campanella, Roberto Cappello, Vincenzo Balzani, Ziyu Liu.
Despite his young age, he has already won about 50 national and international piano competitions,
including the New York Classical Music Competition, the American International Music
Competition of Cleveland (USA), the New Jersey Sinfonietta International Showcase Music
Competition (USA-Germany), the Gold International Classical Music Competition (Netherlands), the
International Artist Competition in Vienna, the Salzburg International Music Competition (Austria),
the France Music Competition (France), the World’s Best Musicians Competition, the BACH
International Music Competition and the Classical Music Stars International Competition (Poland),
the International Northern Light Piano Festival (Sweden), the Concurs Internacional de Piano in
Felanitx (Spain), the Festival 4 Arts International Piano & Organ Competition (Romania), the
International Competition Colibri Arts and Music (Greece), the Piano Talents International
Competition in Milan, and also, in Italy, the international competitions of Albenga, Cefalù, Ischia,
Marina di Massa, Matera, San Donà di Piave, Riviera Etrusca, Valle dell’Etna, Taranto, Catania, the
national competitions of Lamporecchio, Piove di Sacco, Riccione, Palermo, and many others.
He gave his first concert at the age of 7 for the Rotary International Club. He has already performed
for several Italian cultural and musical organizations and associations, including the “Amici della
Musica” of Palermo and Termini Imerese, the PianoFortissimo International Festival, on Lake
Maggiore. He was awarded as a very young excellence by the Kiwanis International Club.
Top Winner at the Ibla Grand Prize International Competition (Italy-USA), between April and May
2024 he was the protagonist of a tour in the United States (Virginia, Arkansas, Texas, New York)
which culminated with his debut at New York University and Carnegie Hall. He returned to Carnegie
Hall to perform in October 2024 as the winner of the New York Concert Star International Piano
Competition. In 2025 he made his debut at the Leiszhalle in Hamburg (Germany), at the Eutherpe
Hall in León (Spain), at the Curtis Theatre in Los Angeles (USA) and, with the orchestra, at the
Puccini Hall of the Milan Conservatory (Italy). Among his upcoming engagements, his debut at the
Tempietto in Rome and at the Società dei Concerti in Milan.

Best Piano Quintet Performance Award

Yinxuan Long, Pianist

known for her oustanding performances across opera, ballet, orchestra, chamber music, and contemporary works. A first prize winner of the Hong Kong International Piano Competition, she has since premiered contemporary work at the China Music Education Forum. Long has collaborated with major institutions such as San Francisco Ballet, New Ballet San Jose, and the National Music Festival.

Best New Composition Award

Xinyi Guo, Composing Pianist, Founder of Sino-British Concert

Xinyi Guo is a UK-based concert pianist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist. Founder of Sino-British Ensemble (SBE), renowned for her improvisational East-West fusion style. She has been holding recitals and performing at iconic venues, including Westminster Central Hall, the Royal Opera House, London St. James, Cambridge Corn Exchange, and Tirana National Opera House (state visiting solo concert on China’s 74th National Day).
Xinyi’s fusion music style has aroused wide audiences and media attention across China and the Europe, Including CGTN, BBC and Tirana Diplomat etc. Notable engagements include the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the 40th-anniversary “Global Journey” concert, and hosting the 2025 Spring Sequence of New Sound: East-West Dialogue Concert, attended by Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and British Historian Michael Wood.
Besides offline concert engagements, her original works (the Light, Munich Station, Elegy) and reimagined classics (A Lament for Fallen Flowers) resonate widely on the internet, with singles surpassing 300k views. Co-manages a piano channel with 800k+ followers.

Audience Choice Award

Ze Luo (Lori) , Pianist

Ze Luo, currently based in London, is a pianist and music educator active in the UK. A graduate of Wuhan Conservatory of Music and the University of York, she has won multiple piano competition awards and is passionate about exploring diverse musical styles. Alongside her piano expertise, she has also received formal vocal training, equipping her with a well-rounded skill set in both piano and voice. Ze is committed to fostering musical appreciation and delivering scientific music education to a wide audience.