The Queen Elisabeth Competition has announced the winners of its 2025 piano edition, one of the most prestigious and demanding contests in the classical music world. After several intense rounds held in Brussels, the jury awarded the First Prize to Nikola Meeuwsen, a Dutch pianist born in 2002.
The Second Prize went to Wataru Hisasue (Japan, b. 1994), and the Third Prize to Valère Burnon (Belgium, b. 1998).
Meeuwsen currently studies under Enrico Pace and Marlies van Gent at the Accademia Internazionale di Imola, and under Frank Braley and Avedis Kouyoumdjian at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. He has already built an extensive career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing with orchestras such as the Residentie Orkest, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Varsovia. His chamber music partners have included Janine Jansen, Corina Belcea and Augustin Dumay.
Among his accolades are the Grachtenfestival Award (2022), Concertgebouw Young Talent Award (2019), Royal Concertgebouw Competition (2014) and Steinway Competition (2012). Upcoming engagements include performances with the Residentie Orkest, Belgian National Orchestra and Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, as well as chamber music projects with Alexander Warenberg, Benjamin Kruithof and Noa Wildschut.
Founded in 1937, the Queen Elisabeth Competition is one of the world’s leading contests for emerging classical musicians. Its piano edition, held every four years, has launched the careers of many renowned artists and remains a key platform for international recognition.
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