I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and achievements of my piano students. Over the years, they have earned top prizes in prestigious events such as the Bristol Rotary Young Musician Competition and the Bristol Festival of Music & Drama, reflecting their hard work and passion for performance.
A particular highlight was seeing one of my thirteen-year-old students named regional winner, going on to perform a piano concerto with the Bristol New Symphonia – a remarkable accomplishment at such a young age. “Watch excerpts from Yuying’s performance of Shostakovich’s 2nd piano concerto with orchestra“
Each award and performance represents more than just a result; it’s a testament to consistent effort, musical curiosity, and the joy of sharing music with others. “Witness the incredible performances of I’ve got Rhythm and The Man I love by Gershwin, Glinka, Liszt by one of Sophia’s pupils”
Here’s a list of Sophia’s pupils and the numerous prizes they have won in local competitions
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Bristol Rotary Young Musician Competition
2023
Yuying Fan – 1st prize, regional winner, – unanimous decision by the jury. The youngest competitor aged 13. As a result of this, in 2024 she went on to perform Shostakovich’s 2nd piano concerto with Bristol New Symphonia.
Bristol Festival of Music & Drama
2025
Julien Liu – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) (11yrs & under, Pre-1900 class)
Julien Liu – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) (11yrs & under, Post – 1900 class)
Christina Weng – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Post- 1900 class)
Piotr Cienciella – 1st prize: Distinction (Adult class, own choice repertoire)
Eric Weng – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Grade 6, Post- 1900 class)
Christina Weng – 2nd prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Classical repertoire class)
Eric Weng – 2nd prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Grade 5, Pre- 1900 class)
Annabel Edey – 2nd prize: Distinction (Grade 5, Post- 1900 class)
Annabel Edey – 3rd prize: Merit (13 yrs & under, Pre- 1900 class)
2024
Sammy Lam – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) (open age, 1st year undergraduate at University of Bristol, own choice performing Schumann’s G minor sonata)
Olivia Liu – 1st prize: Distinction (17 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Eric Weng – 1st prize: Distinction (9 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Jessica Pittaway – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Jessica Pittaway – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Contemporary class)
Ealan Shah – 1st prize: Distinction (7 yrs & under, own choice piece)
2023
Klara Goebel – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) (Open age class category, performing Ciramosa’s Allegro)
Amber Pang – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Emily Yan – 2nd prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
2022
Amber Pang – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Klara Goebel – 1st prize: Distinction (11 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: outstanding (90 marks) (15 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: Distinction (17 yrs & under, own choice: played Bach Toccata in E minor)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: Distinction (13 yrs & under, 20th century music)
Klara Goebel – 2nd prize: (11 yrs & under, 20th century class)
Jeffrey Zhang – 2nd prize: (15 yrs & under, own choice class)
Eric Weng – 2nd prize: (7 yrs & under, Baroque class)
2021
Klara Goebel- 1st prize: distinction (9 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Amber Pang – 1st prize: distinction (13 yrs & under, Romantic repertoire)
Jeffrey Zhang- 1st prize: distinction (13 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: outstanding (90 marks) (13 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
2020
Yuying Fan- 1st prize : outstanding (92 marks)- (15 yrs & under, repertoire class)
Yuying Fan- 1st prize : outstanding (92 marks) – (13 yrs & under Baroque class)
Yuying Fan- 1st prize : outstanding (92 marks) – 13 yrs & under, Classical class)
Frederick Tan – 1st prize: outstanding (90 marks) -(11 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Frederick Tan – 1st prize: distinction (11 yrs & under, 20th century music)
Yuying Fan – 2nd prize: distinction (11 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Olivia Liu – 1st prize: distinction (13 yrs and under, Modern class)
Zhanna Oganesova -1st prize: outstanding (90 marks) – (18 & under, Romantic repertoire)
Kevin Pan – 2nd prize: (17 & under, Romantic Repertoire)
2019
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Frederick Tan – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) – (10 yrs & under, Baroque class)
Frederick Tan – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) – (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Hansen Chen – 1st prize: Outstanding (93 marks)- (10 yrs & under, Baroque class)
Olivia Liu – 1st prize – Distinction (12 yrs & under, Contemporary music)
Hansen Chen – 3rd prize – (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
2018
Will Liao – 1st prize: distincton (17 yrs & under, Classical class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: outstanding (90 marks) – (9 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize (9 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Yuying Fan – 2nd prize (9 yrs & under, Music composed in the 19th century)
Olivia Liu – 2nd prize (11 yrs & under, Contemporary music)
Frederick Tan – 1st prize ( 9 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Frederick Tan – 2nd prize ( 9 yrs & under, Baroque class)
Frederick Tan – 2nd prize ( 9 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Hansen Chen – 2nd prize (9 yrs & under, Contemporary music)
Hansen Chen – 3rd prize (9 yrs & under, 20 century music)
Jinhan Zhang – 3rd prize (11 yrs & under, Romantic class)
For records of previous years click here:
European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) Piano Competition
2020 (UK)
Yuying Fan- 1st prize in the Round held in Bristol, (Mark: Outstanding, given by adjudicator Murray McLachlan – head of keyboard at Chetham’s Music school) (Category: Advanced 1, equivalent to Grade 8)
2019 (UK)
Yuying Fan- 2nd prize in Regional Finals held in Manchester (Category; Intermediate 2, equivalent to Grade 7)
Freddie Tan – joint 2nd prize in Regional Finals held in Manchester (Category: Intermediate 1, equivalent to grade 5)
Hansen Chen- joint 2nd prize in Regional Finals held in Manchester (Category: Intermediate 1, equivalent to grade 5)
2018 (UK)
Yuying Fan- 2nd prize in Regional Finals held in Manchester (Category; Intermediate 2, equivalent to Grade 6)
Hansen Chen- 2nd prize in Regional Finals held in Manchester (Category: Intermediate 1, equivalent to Grade 4)
For records of previous years click here:
Longwell Green Festival of Music
2025
- Anna Jiang – 1st prize: (8 yrs & under, 20th century class)
- Julian Liu – 1st prize: (12 yrs & under, Baroque Class)
- Xenio Mong – 1st prize (10 yrs & under, Jazz class)
- Xenio Mong – 1st prize: (10 yrs & under, Repertoire Class)
- James Parshall – 1st prize: (17 yrs & under, Jazz class)
- Eric Weng and Julian Liu – 1st prize: (12 yrs & under playing Grieg’s Norwegian Dance no.2, Duet class)
- James Parshall – 2nd prize: (17 yrs & under, Romantic repertoire)
- Anna Jiang – 2nd prize: (8yrs & and under, Jazz class)
2024
- Jessica Pittaway – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) (12 yrs & under, Romantic class)
- Eric Weng – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Baroque class)
- Eric Weng- 2nd prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
- Christina Weng – 3rd prize: Distinction (9 yrs & under, Modern class)
2023
Christina Weng – 1st prize: (8 yrs & under, own choice class)
Eric Weng – 1st prize: (8 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Jessica Pittaway – 1st prize: (9 yrs & under, Contemporary class)
Eric Weng – 1st prize: (8 yrs & under, Classical period)
Sisi Shah – 1st prize: (9 yrs & under, Classical period)
Christina Weng – 2nd prize: (8 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Jessica Pittaway – 2nd prize: (9 yrs & under, Classical period)
Klara Goebel – 2nd prize: (13 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
2022
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: outstanding (90 marks) (13 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Emily Yan – 1st prize: (10 yrs & under, Baroque class)
Eric Weng – 1st prize: (9 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Isabelle Kasapoglu – 2nd prize: (15 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Emily Yan – 2nd prize: (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Olivia Liu – 3rd prize: (15 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
Eric Weng – 3rd prize: (9 yrs & under, 19th century music)
2019
Amber Pang – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, Contemporary music)
Freddie Tan & Sophia McKett (duet) – 1st prize: Outstanding (90 marks) (Romantic repertoire duet)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize (10 yrs & under, jazzy piece)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize (10 yrs & under, repertoire class)
2018
Freddie Tan – 1st prize (9 yrs & under, romantic piece)
Freddie Tan – 1st prize (9 yrs & under, modern repertoire)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize (10 yrs & under , Baroque class)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize (10 yrs & under, Repertoire class)
For records of previous years click here:
Nailsea Festival of Music
2024
Eric Weng – 1st prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Classical class)
Jessica Pittaway – 1st prize: Distinction (12 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Klara Goebel – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Contemporary period class)
Klara Goebel & Sophia McKett – 1st prize: Distinction ( child and adult performing in a duet class)
Piotr Cienciella – 1st prize: Distinction (18 yrs and above, repertoire class, playing two contrasted pieces)
Charlotte Fang – 2nd prize: Distinction (10 yrs & under, Romantic class)
2023
Eric Weng – 1st prize: (8 yrs & under, Baroque class)
Sisi Shah – 1st prize: (8 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Klara Goebel – 1st prize: (13 yrs 7 under, Classical period)
Klara Goebel – 1st prize: outstanding (90 marks, 13 yrs & under, Romantic period)
Jessica Pittaway – 1st prize: (9 yrs & under, Romantic class)
Jessica Pittaway – 2nd prize: (9 yrs & under, Classical class)
Anaiya Shah – 2nd prize: (11 yrs & under, Romantic class)
2022
Yuying Fan & Sophia McKett (duet) – 1st prize: Outstanding (duet class, playing Grieg’s 1st Norwegian Dance)
Yuying Fan – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Romantic class)Yuying Fan – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Emily Yan – 1st prize: Distnction (9 yrs & under, Romantic class)Rebecca Goebel – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Baroque class)
Klara Goebel – 1st prize: Outstanding (13 yrs & under, Romantic class)Klara Goebel & Olivia Liu (duet) – 1st prize: Distinction (15 yrs & under, Duet class)
Eric Weng – 1st prize: Distinction (9 yrs & under, Jazz class)
Entries to the Nailsea Festival of Music made between 2013 & 2021 are being updated having been misplaced after moving content from an older site. Below are previous years winners dating back to 2006.
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Daniel Ginsburg – 1st prize (14 yrs & under, classical class (2012)
Daniel Ginsburg – 1st prize (14 yrs & under, repertoire class) (2012)
Michael Hu – 1st prize (14 yrs & under, romantic class) (2012)
Max Liu – 1st prize (8 yrs & under, classical class) (2012)
Jinhan Zhang – 1st prize (6 yrs & under, own choice) (2012)
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Daniel Ginsburg – 1st prize (repertoire class, grades 5-6) (2011)
Max Liu – 1st prize (7 yrs & under, classical class) (2011)
Max Liu – 1st prize (7 yrs & under, romantic class) (2011)
Eleanor Hemming – 1st prize (15 yrs & under, romantic class) (2001)
Max Liu – 2nd prize (7 yrs & under, jazz class) (2011)
Yuchao Fan – 2nd prize (9 yrs & under, jazz class) (2011)
Yuchao Fan – 2nd prize (9 yrs & under, romantic class) (2011)
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Helga Wong – 1st prize (11 yrs & under, classical music) (2010)
Eleanor Hemming – 1st prize (14 yrs & under, romantic music) (2010)
Eleanor Hemming – 1st prize (14 yrs & under, jazz class) (2010)
Max Liu – 1st prize (8 yrs & under, classical music) (2010)
Max Liu – 1st prize (8 yrs & under, modern music) (2010)
Michael Hu – 1st prize (17 yrs & under, repertoire class) (2010)
Jennie Han – 1st prize (17 yrs & under, grade 8 exam syllabus) (2010)
Michael Hu – 2nd prize (17 yrs & under, grade 8 exam syllabus) (2010)
Jennie han – 2nd prize (17 yrs & under, repertoire class) (2010)
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Michael Hu – 1st prize (11 yrs & under, music before 1830) (2009)
Jennie Han – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, classical music) (2009)
Michael Hu – 1st prize (11 yrs & under, romantic music) (2009)
Helga Wong – 1st prize & Trophy (8 yrs & under, own choice) (2009)
Jennie Han – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, romantic class) (2009)
Jennie Han – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, classical music) (2009)
Eleanor Wood & Jennie Han (duet) – 1st prize (13 yrs & under) (2009)
Eleanor Wood – 1st prize (12 yrs & under, jazz class) (2009)
Mark O’Connor – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, jazz class) (2009)
Mark O’Connor – 2nd prize (13 yrs & under, romantic music) (2009)
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Helga Wong – 1st prize (junior class, 7 yrs & under) (2007)
Michael Hu – 1st prize (jazz class, 11 yrs & under) (2007)
Eleanor Wood- 2nd prize (jazz class, 11 yrs & under) (2007)
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David Zhu – 1st prize (age between 12-17 yrs, repertoire class) (2006)
Eleanor Wood – 2nd prize (junior class, 11 yrs & under) (2006)
Michael Hu – 3rd prize (junior class, 11 yrs & under) (2006)
Longwell Green Festival of Music Continued (older years)
Jinhan Zhang – 1st prize (8 yrs & under, romantic class) (2014)
Jinhan Zhang – 1st prize (8 yrs& under, contemporary class) (2014)
Max Liu- 1st prize (10 yrs & under, contemporary class) (2014)
Daniel Ginsberg – 1st prize (15 yrs & under, romantic class) (2014)
Yuchao Fan- 1st prize (12 yrs & under, romantic class) (2014)
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Jinhan Zhang – 1st prize (7 yrs & under, romantic class) (2013)
Max Liu – 1st prize (9 yrs & under, contemporary class) (2013)
Kelly Peng – 1st prize (10 yrs & under, romantic class) (2013)
Yuchao Fan – 2nd prize (11 yrs & under, repertoire class) (2013)
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Daniel Ginsburg – 1st prize and Trophy (12 yrs & under, romantic class) (2012)
Michael Hu – 1st prize and Trophy (14 yrs & under, romantic class) (2012)
Max Liu – 1st prize (8 yrs & under, classical class) (2012)
Jinhan Zhang – 1st prize (6 yrs & under, own choice) (2012)
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Michael Hu – 1st prize and Trophy (15 yrs & under, romantic music) (2011)
Jennie Han – 1st prize and Trophy (15 yrs & under, romantic music) (2011)
William Dennis – 1st prize (10 yrs & under, romantic music) (2011)
Abigail Wood – 1st prize (11 yrs & under, impressionistic music) (2011)
Abigail Wood – 2nd prize (11 yrs & under, romantic music) (2011)
Yuchao Fan – 2nd prize (10 yrs & under, romantic music) (2011)
Max Liu- 3rd prize (7 yrs & under, romantic music) (2011)
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Michael Hu – 1st prize (14 yrs & under, Beethoven class) (2010)
Jennie Han – 1st prize (18 yrs & under, repertoire class) (2010)
Michael Hu -2nd prize (14 yrs & under, repertoire class) (2010)
Jennie Han – 2nd prize (18 yrs & under, Beethoven class) (2010)
Eleanor Wood – 1st prize and and trophy winner for best performance over two class categories (14 yrs & under, romatic class) (2010)
Max Liu -3rd prize (8 yrs & under, modern) (2010)
Helga Wong -3rd prize (13 yrs & under, modern class) (2010)
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Yuhan Peng – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, classical music) (2009)
Yuhan Peng – 1st prize (13 yrs & under, repertoire class, mark: 90 – ‘outstanding’) (2009)
Helga Wong – 1st prize (8 yrs & under, own choice) (2009)
Eleanor Wood – 1st prize (12 yrs & under, jazz) (2009)
Jennie Han – 1st prize & Trophy (13 yrs & under, romantic music) (2009)
Eleanor Wood & Jennie Han (duet) – 1st prize (13yrs & under) (2009)
Michael Hu – 3rd prize (11 yrs & under, romatic music) (2009)
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Helga Wong – 1st prize (8 yrs & under) (2008)
Michael Hu – 1st prize (9 yrs & under) (2008)
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Jenny Mu – 1st prize (18 yrs & under, mark: 92 : ‘outstanding’) (2005)
Ann Zhang – 1st prize (12 yrs & under) (2005)
Eleanor Wood – 1st prize (8 yrs & under) (2005)
Michael Hu – 2nd prize (8 yrs & under) (2005)
Eleanor Hemming – 2nd prize (10 yrs & under) (2005)
Duet – Paul Song & Ann Zhang – Commended
Kingswood Festival of Music
Michael Hu – 1st prize (9yrs & under, own choice) (2008)
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Helga Wong- 1st prize (junior class,7 yrs & under) (2007)
Michael Hu – 1st prize (junior class, 11 yrs & under) (2007)
Eleanor Wood- 2nd prize (junior class, 11 yrs & under) (2007)
Paul Song – 1st prize (11 yrs & under) (2007)
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Catherine Offord – 2nd prize (17 yrs & under: repertoire class) (2006)
Ann Zhang – 1st class certificate (13 yrs & under)
Thomas Sun – 1st class certificate (10 yrs & under) (2006)
Michael Hu – 1st class certificate (9 yrs & under)
Eleanor Wood – 1st class certificate (9 yrs & under) (2006)
Mid-Somerset Competitive Festival (Bath)
2019
Will Liao – 2nd prize (18 yrs & under, concerto class: he played Balakirev’s 1st piano concerto)
2014
Mako Ikeno – Concerto competition: she played Arensky’s 1st piano concerto)
2005
Milo Chen – 1st prize (15 yrs & under, piano solo from memory)
Jenny Mu – 1st prize (17 yrs & under, repertoire class)
Catherine Offord – 1st prize (17 yrs & under, performance of own composition)
North London Festival of Music & Drama (2005)
Jenny Mu – a participant following a successful entry competition to this prestigious competition
Jenny Mu – attained a Distinction in her Diploma of the ABRSM, a rarity at age 16
Sophia McKett 