Christchurch teenager Jun Bouterey-Ishido has won New Zealand's premier competition for pianists, the Kerikeri National Piano Competition.

His performance of a selection from Schubert, Brahms and Ravel was according to adjudicator Ian Munro "extra-ordinary".

"He plays like he's been on this planet 50 years. I'm running out of superlatives," he said. "He's got a bit to learn technically, but musically there doesn't seem to be any hang-up between his brain and his fingers." Christchurch teenager Jun Bouterey-Ishido has won New Zealand's premier competition for pianists, the Kerikeri National Piano Competition.

His performance of a selection from Schubert, Brahms and Ravel was according to adjudicator Ian Munro "extra-ordinary".

"He plays like he's been on this planet 50 years. I'm running out of superlatives," he said. "He's got a bit to learn technically, but musically there doesn't seem to be any hang-up between his brain and his fingers."Bouterey-Ishido was more critical about his performance.

He said: "On the whole I was satisfied but there are things I'm not happy with. In terms of my win, I'm very happy. It's not that I'm surprised, but I was not really expecting anything."

Bouterey-Ishido looked to have the competition at his fingertips throughout the three days, despite facing seventeen of the most accomplished young pianists from five countries.

The 18-year-old, who has just completed a degree in Piano Performance at Canterbury, completely immersed himself in the 45-minute programme of music all played from memory.

Ishido who studies under Peter Nagy and Judith Clark received New Zealand's most prestigious piano award, the Richard Farrell first prize and $10,000 in prize money from Mr Munro, one of Australia's most celebrated pianists.

He was one of four finalists who all had to play a 45-minute programme of their choice. Tony Lin, also from Christchurch, won second place and the James Wallace ArtsTrust Prize of $5,000, Joong-Han Jung was awarded third place and the Judith Barnes Prize of $2,500 and Roger Cui, the first international finalist from Queensland, Australia was given fourth prize of $1,000.

An important addition this year to the first prize is the opportunity to perform with four of the major orchestras around New Zealand: the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, the Canterbury Philharmonia Orchestra, the Wellington Youth Orchestra and the Auckland Youth Orchestra.

Bouterey-Ishido's win places him alongside previous winners who have gone on to international success.

These include Stephen de Pledge, Dan Poynton, Henry Wong Doe, John Chen and Emma Sayers.

In two preliminary rounds, competitors played a sonata by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn or Schubert on Friday, then a half hour programme of their choice on Saturday.

All contestants had come through a tough selection round to qualify for entry into the competition which has been described by patron and eminent New Zealand pianist Michael Houstoun as the "best test for pianists in the solo repertoire in this country."

Their performances were recognised. Other prizes were the $1,500 Jill Cottle Award for best Sonata Performace, which was won by Tony Lin and Maria Mo won the $1,000 Sandy McKay Encouragement Award.

The Webb Ross People's Choice Award of $1,000 went to John-Paul Muir.

Two lucky dip prizes of $250 each from Marbecks and Piano Traders were won by Maria Mo and John-Paul Muir.

This year marks the 21 anniversary of the competition and as part of the celebrations, contestants and audience members were treated to a piece of a two-metre long cake and a glass of champagne after the announcement of the winners.

08/07/08