In 2025, hecompeted in 3 Grand Slams of piano.

In May of2025, he won 1st prize at the Dublin International PianoCompetition.

5 days afterwinning Dublin, he competed and became a finalist at the Cliburn InternationalPiano Competition by June of 2025. Heaccomplished this despite suffering from an injured right arm!

4 monthslater, in October of 2025, he won 2nd prize at the HonensInternational Piano Competition.

Meet CarterJohnson. From his roots in CampbellRiver, British Columbia, Canada, to his journey on numerous competitions overthe years, Carter has become a legendary pianist. Join Amos Vang and Carter Johnson as theydiscuss Carter’s preparation and mindset for the world’s most renowned pianocompetitions, the essence of musicality, the importance of adapting tounforeseen circumstances, and the importance of music and arts education inCanadian youth.

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Other musicby Amos Vang

#honens#cliburn #carterjohnson #neurorecital #verbier #chopincompetition#classicfm #neuroscience #piano #janinafialkowska #classicalmusic

-- CHAPTERS --

0:00 – Introduction

3:19 – What inspired Carter Johnson to pursue piano? How has the music culture on Vancouver Islandinfluenced Carter Johnson?

4:08 – What were the most important lessons that CarterJohnson learned from Shelley Roberts, his teacher?

5:30 – The importance of teaching and learning

9:15 – Carter Johnson studied music at the University ofBritish Columbia

15:46 – Carter Johnson on Schubert and his lieder

16:45 – Music requires well-roundedness

18:40 – Carter Johnson pursued a Master of Music atJuilliard and a Doctor of Musical Arts at Yale School of Music

19:52 – Carter Johnson performed, and STILL PERFORMS, withAngela Hewitt!!!

24:15 – What were the most important lessons that CarterJohnson learned from Angela Hewitt?

29:13 – What inspired Carter Johnson to compete in theDublin International Piano Competition?

30:41 – Carter Johnson’s road to winning 1stprize at the 2025 Dublin International Piano Competition

35:39 – The 2025 Van Cliburn Competition took place just 5DAYS AFTER CARTER JOHNSON WON DUBLIN!

38:13 – Carter Johnson explains the importance ofmaintaining a good COMPETITION MINDSET!

46:41 – The situation that pianists face with competitionsand careers

50:19 – Carter Johnson’s competed at the Cliburn…WITH ANINJURED ARM??!!!

57:54 – What were the most important lessons that CarterJohnson learned from the Cliburn?

1:02:12 – What inspired Carter Johnson to “Hone In onHonens”?

1:04:13 – To what extent had Carter Johnson’s experiences atDublin and at the Cliburn influence his strategy at Honens?

1:05:59 – Carter Johnson’s approach to “Fracture” by ImanHabibi

1:11:06 – Carter Johnson’s journey through Honens

1:14:54 – What is musicality to Carter Johnson?

1:17:04 – What is the Complete Artist to Carter Johnson?

1:18:45 – What are the greatest misconceptions that CarterJohnson has heard from other people about classical music?

1:24:14 – What’s the point of learning music?

1:31:39 – What are the most rewarding aspects of CarterJohnson’s career? What are the mostimportant lessons that Carter Johnson has learned from his career?

1:33:18 – What’s next for Carter Johnson?

1:33:53 – Carter Johnson’s advice for aspiring classicalmusicians, and remarks towards his fans!

At age 16, he became a major prize winner at the Olympics ofPiano, the International Chopin Competition.

To this day, he holds the record as the youngest prize winner in the competition’s history.

The great Martha Argerich enjoyed his performance and sawhim as one of the next great pianists.

This is the Legend of Tony Yike Yang.

On Fryderyk Chopin’s birthday, join Amos Vang and Tony YikeYang as the two pianists reminisce on Tony’s successful Road to Warsaw, hisexperience meeting Martha Argerich, the lessons that he has learned from hiscareer, and the most important lessons that he has learned in his career.

Tony’s website: https://www.tonyyikeyang.com/

Tony’s Instagram: @tonyyikeyang

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Golden Hour by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Other music by Amos Vang and by Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin.

-- CHAPTERS --

0:00 – Introduction

4:30 – What inspired Tony Yike Yang to pursue piano?

6:27 – Who and what were Tony Yike Yang’s musicalinfluences?

11:07 – Tony Yike Yang studied at the Taylor Academy and at Juilliard Pre-College

15:25 – What are the similarities and differences betweenTaylor Academy and Juilliard Pre-College?

20:57 – Music and sports have one thing in common: community and marquee events are important!

26:24 – Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony are the most importantmusical focal points for Tony Yike Yang!

30:55 – What inspired Tony Yike Yang to embark on the Roadto Warsaw?

34:10 – The 2010 International Chopin Competition was aHIGHLY impressive year! It set the tonefor future International Chopin Competitions!

38:44 – Tony Yike Yang at the 2014 Canadian ChopinCompetition!

50:56 – Tony Yike Yang at the 2015 International ChopinCompetition!

55:04 – What was Tony Yike Yang feeling and thinking at the2015 International Chopin Competition?

55:52 – Will Martha Argerich still like me?

1:02:48 – Tony Yike Yang became the YOUNGEST PRIZE WINNER inthe history of the International Chopin Competition!

1:07:10 – Dang Thai Son did not think Tony Yike Yang wouldmake the finals! Tony proved him wrong!

1:08:23 – What were Tony Yike Yang’s favorite moments at the2015 International Chopin Competition? Spoiler: FOOD!

1:16:31 – Tony Yike Yang performed at Zelazowa Wola,Chopin’s birthplace!

1:17:54 – What were the most important lessons that TonyYike Yang learned from the 2015 International Chopin Competition?

1:25:58 – Chopin and post-2020

1:29:23 – Tony Yike Yang competed at the Cliburn Competition

1:31:49 – The scrutiny at the Chopin Competition isextremely high!

1:40:02 – What is musicality to Tony Yike Yang?

1:47:09 – Tony Yike Yang and Amos Vang explain the greatestmisconceptions that he has experienced about classical music and piano?

1:47:39 – Amos Vang explains the misconceptions thatclassical music face in Canada, from a personal and wider societal standpoint

1:52:26 – Tony Yike Yang explains the situation thatclassical music faces in the world, from a personal and wider societalstandpoint

1:55:08 – Many people prefer to numb themselves with loud,boisterous music rather than confront their feelings in an honest way

2:05:37 – What are the most rewarding things and mostimportant lessons that Tony Yike Yang has experienced and learned in hiscareer?

2:10:01 – Tony Yike Yang addresses his fans and gives somecareer advice for classical music!

#chopin#chopincompetition#chopin2025 #cliburn #cliburncompetition#vancliburn#tonyyikeyang #piano #janinafialkowska #virtuosity #classicalmusic

She almost gave up a piano performing career for med school. Instead, she persisted and won 3rd prize at the Canadian Grand Slam of piano, the 2025 Honens International Piano Competition. This is the Legend of Anastasia Vorotnaya. From studying at the Moscow State Conservatory at age 8, to winning her first international piano competition at age 15, to moving to Madrid at age 17 with no initial fluency of Spanish, Anastasia honed in on her pianistic performance in a life and career of triumphs and trials. Join Amos Vang and Anastasia Vorotnaya as Anastasia “Hones In on Honens”, describes musicality, and the most important lessons that she has learned in her career.Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auGolden Hour by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au#honens #honens2025 #neurorecital #verbier #chopincompetition #anastasiavorotnaya #classicfm #neuroscience #cliburn #piano #janinafialkowska #classicalmusic-- CHAPTERS --0:00 – Introduction4:20 – What inspired Anastasia Vorotnaya to pursue piano?7:36 – At age 8, Anastasia Vorotnaya and her mom moved to Moscow to study at the Moscow State Conservatory14:14 – What were the most important lessons that Anastasia Vorotnaya learned from all of her teachers at the Moscow State Conservatory?19:35 – The difficult balance between tradition and creativity in competitions23:29 – Is it possible to have a Chopin Urtext?26:12 – At age 15, Anastasia Vorotnaya won the Concertino Praga Competition. What was that experience like for her?28:40 – Anastasia Vorotnaya actually stopped performing for a while in order to focus on her studies!29:20 – At age 17, Anastasia Vorotnaya moved to Madrid, Spain, on her own, without speaking one word of English or Spanish. How did she survive?31:51 – Anastasia Vorotnaya completed her Bachelor and Master of Music in Spain. What were the most important lessons that she learned from her university years?33:09 – Sound projection in piano performance in large concert halls36:55 – Mozart and Bach are fundamental composers to learn in the classical music tradition!44:45 – Anastasia Vorotnaya studied under Stanislav Ioudenitch in the U.S. What was that experience like for her?48:42 – Anastasia Vorotnaya’s experience performing with Sir Andras Schiff50:30 – Anastasia Vorotnaya almost gave up on music to go to med school?!1:02:47 – Social media and classical pianists1:06:23 –What inspired Anastasia Vorotnaya to Hone In on Honens?1:13:41 – How did Anastasia Vorotnaya learn and interpret “Fracture”?1:20:04 – What is musicality to Anastasia Vorotnaya?1:21:51 – What is the Complete Artist to Anastasia Vorotnaya?1:24:18 – What are the greatest misconceptions of music that other people have expressed to Anastasia Vorotnaya?1:32:21 – What are the most rewarding things and most important lessons that Anastasia Vorotnaya has experienced and learned in her career?1:35:03 – What’s next for Anastasia Vorotnaya?1:35:39 – What advice does Anastasia Vorotnaya have for those who want to pursue a career in classical music?1:37:45 – Anastasia Vorotnaya addresses her fans!