As part of the 2026 Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition, join us for an exceptional recital by Alex Bai, one of New Zealand’s most outstanding young pianists and a leading talent of his generation.

At just 15 years old, Alex has already established an impressive national and international reputation. Audiences will have the opportunity to hear the 2024 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition winner in a programme that showcases his remarkable artistry, technical brilliance, and musical maturity.

Friday 17 July - The University of Auckland School of Music

Doors open: 7:00pm - Start: 7:30pm - Finish: 9:30pm

About Alex

Alex (Xuyao) Bai is a Year 11 student at Dilworth School in Auckland and studies piano with Stephen De Pledge. He began learning piano at the age of five and has quickly established himself as one of New Zealand’s most promising young pianists.

In 2024, Alex became the youngest-ever winner of the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition at just 14 years old. He was awarded Second Prize at the International Piano Competition Kronberg (Germany) in 2025 and has recently qualified for several major international competitions in Europe, including the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth (Poland), the Ettlingen International Piano Competition (Germany), and Concertino Praga (Czech Republic) in 2026.

Alex has performed solo recitals in New Zealand and Germany and has appeared with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Alongside his solo work, he is an enthusiastic chamber musician and regularly performs at community and charity events.

A multi-instrumentalist, Alex also plays the clarinet and violin and is an active member of Dilworth School’s Senior Concert Band and Chamber Orchestra.

PROGRAMME

Bach: Overture, Allemande and Gigue from Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV 828

Mozart: Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegretto

INTERVAL

Chopin: Variations on “Là ci darem la mano”, Op. 2

Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2

Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514

For more information on the competition, visit the CLEF website.

Presented by CLEF - Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation & proudly supported by Lewis Eady Steinway NZ

Contact the host of RECITAL by ALEX BAI

There were 0 errors found in the information you submitted: