First-Prize Winner Makes Lincoln Center Debut November 16!
Chu-Fang Huang, age 23, a citizen of China currently residing in the United States, was named winner of the 2005 Cleveland International Piano Competition. The distinguished jury selected Huang from a field of 30 candidates who performed over a ten-day period.

Founded 30 years ago, the Cleveland International Piano Competition presents the largest cash prize of any contest of its kind worldwide and offers the unique opportunity for all four top finalists to perform piano concertos with the renowned Cleveland Orchestra, this year with conductor Jahja Ling.

Huang receives a record cash prize of $50,000, an international compact disc recording on Naxos and more than 50 worldwide engagements including a New York recital debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, November 16, 2005.

Chu-Fang Huang is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, an MM candidate at Julliard School and a 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition finalist. Additional wins include Fourth Prize at both the 2004 Beijing International Piano Competition and the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition. Since 2003, Ms. Huang has performed in recital and with orchestras around the world, including the Victoria Symphony, the Illinois Philharmonic, the Fort Worth Symphony, and the Hilton Head Orchestra.

Additional awards included: Second Prize and $25,000 to Sergey Kuznetsov of Russia; Third Prize and $15,000 to Stanislav Khristenko of Russia; Fourth Prize and $10,000 to Spencer Myer of the United States; plus an additional $2,000 for each of the four semi-finalists that did not advance to the final round. Each contestant who completed the first two rounds without advancing received $1,000. Special awards included: Baroque Prize and $2,000 to Grace Fong; Beethoven Prize and $2,000 to Chu-Fang Huang; Cairns Family American Prize and $1,500 to Spencer Myer; Chopin Prize and $2,000 to Chu-Fang Huang; Contemporary Prize and $1,500 to Spencer Myer; and Mozart Prize and $1,500 to Hong Xu.