Eric Lu Wins 19th Chopin Competition: "My Ambition Made Me Try Again"
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Eric Lu, 27, won the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, becoming the first repeat competitor to take first place. In a Nov. 24 interview in Seoul, Lu said ambition and the desire for a stable international career led him to re-enter the competition after placing fourth at age 17 in the 17th edition and later winning the Leeds (리즈) Competition in 2018. He recalled struggling with a finger injury and a cold before the final round and nearly withdrawing, but chose to continue after long preparation. Lu opted to perform Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 (the first time in 45 years a winner had done so) and said his mindset and approach were completely different from a decade ago. Since winning, he has performed many concerts worldwide, including a Korean tour with the KBS Symphony Orchestra and recitals in Ulsan and Tongyeong. He praised fellow Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho (조성진) for his public congratulations and urged young musicians to focus purely on music, accept the unpredictable nature of competitions, and keep developing. Lu also mentioned enjoying Korean stews, especially sundubu (순두부, a soft tofu stew).
