Concert pianist Aristo Sham, 29, from Hong Kong, alumnus and faculty member at Ingesund School of Music and resident of Arvika, Sweden, has won the gold medal at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas.
After intense performances viewed by a global audience of over 20 million, he was awarded first prize, which includes over one million SEK in prize money, international tours, a recording contract, and the audience award.
In the final, he performed works by Brahms and Mendelssohn—the latter marking its first-ever appearance in the competition’s history. Sham has a strong connection to Sweden through his collaboration with Professor Julia Mustonen-Dahlkvist at Ingesund. She describes him as a rare musician with deep artistic integrity.
"Working with Aristo has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my professional life," she says. "His authenticity, artistic depth, and uncompromising pursuit of quality make him a rare musician—and a rare human being."
In addition to his studies in Sweden, Aristo Sham recently completed the Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School in New York, where he studied with, among others, Professor Robert McDonald. Sham’s victory is not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the power of long-term mentorship and artistic development—even in a small town like Arvika.
“For me, music is a reflection of life and the world around us,” Sham said before the final. “To truly reach the audience, we must understand what is happening in the world.”
