He was a finalist at the Olympics of Piano, the International Chopin Competition. He also won the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition. He also won major awards at the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition. He is also a Visiting Artist at MIT. And now, he is Artistic Director of a new Grand Slam of piano, the Toronto International Piano Competition, which takes place on August 14 to 16, 2026. Join Amos Vang as he features the career of Aljosa Jurinic. Amos and Aljosa discuss Aljosa’s Road to Warsaw, development as a pianist, and the most important lessons that Aljosa has learned from each milestone in his career. More importantly, Amos and Aljosa discuss the Toronto International Piano Competition, including its competition structure, prizes, career potential, and repertoire. Amos Vang and “This is the Legend Of…” are proud to be collaborating with Aljosa and with the Toronto International Piano Competition in promoting and featuring the world’s best pianists in Canada’s largest city. Aljosa’s Instagram and YouTube: @aljosapiano Aljosa’s website: https://www.aljosa-jurinic.com/ Toronto International Piano Competition: https://www.torontopiano.org/ Toronto International Piano Competition’s Instagram: @torontopianocompTomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au Other music by Amos Vang

-- CHAPTERS --0:00 – Introduction2:50 – What inspired Aljosa Jurinic to pursue piano?4:01 – What was the music culture in Croatia during Aljosa Jurinic’s early days?6:17 – What were the most impactful early musical influences in Aljosa Jurinic’s life?7:31 – What were the most important lessons that Aljosa Jurinic learned in his early life?10:47 – What inspired Aljosa Jurinic to pursue a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music at the University of Zagreb?13:06 – How was the transition from pre-university to post-university in terms of Aljosa Jurinic’s music studies?14:29 – What were the greatest challenges that Aljosa Jurinic faced learning music during his university years?17:26 – Canada, especially Ontario, has faced devastating funding cuts to music education in public school systems. This affects music culture in Canada.19:46 – Building an audience20:57 – Almost everyone in Poland knows who Chopin is!21:34 – What inspired Aljosa Jurinic to compete in the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition?24:58 – Aljosa Jurinic WON the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition!27:49 – What inspired Aljosa Jurinic to embark on the Road to Warsaw?37:31 – What were the most important lessons that Aljosa Jurinic leaned from the International Chopin Competition?43:21 – What inspired Aljosa Jurinic to compete at the Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition and the Leeds International Piano Competition? What were the most important lessons that Aljosa Jurinic learned from these competitions?49:31 – What is musicality to Aljosa Jurinic?53:07 – Who is Fryderyk Chopin to Aljosa Jurinic?55:54 – TORONTO INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION, why Toronto?1:03:00 – How strong is Toronto’s potential for the growth of a classical music audience?1:10:18 – How does the Alink-Argerich Foundation support the Toronto International Piano Competition?1:12:16 – COMPETITION STRUCTURE1:14:25 – Why does Fryderyk Chopin have a special designation at the Toronto International Piano Competition?1:15:24 – JURY1:20:15 – What makes the Toronto International Piano Competition unique from other major piano competitions?1:23:23 – CATEGORIES1:25:24 – What if there is a tie at the Toronto International Piano Competition?1:30:45 – Where can people watch, listen to, and follow the Toronto International Piano Competition?1:32:11 – Aljosa Jurinic addresses his fans and gives advice on the pursuit of a classical piano career!

In 2025, hecompeted in 3 Grand Slams of piano.

In May of2025, he won 1st prize at the Dublin International PianoCompetition.

5 days afterwinning Dublin, he competed and became a finalist at the Cliburn InternationalPiano Competition by June of 2025. Heaccomplished this despite suffering from an injured right arm!

4 monthslater, in October of 2025, he won 2nd prize at the HonensInternational Piano Competition.

Meet CarterJohnson. From his roots in CampbellRiver, British Columbia, Canada, to his journey on numerous competitions overthe years, Carter has become a legendary pianist. Join Amos Vang and Carter Johnson as theydiscuss Carter’s preparation and mindset for the world’s most renowned pianocompetitions, the essence of musicality, the importance of adapting tounforeseen circumstances, and the importance of music and arts education inCanadian youth.

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Other musicby Amos Vang

#honens#cliburn #carterjohnson #neurorecital #verbier #chopincompetition#classicfm #neuroscience #piano #janinafialkowska #classicalmusic

-- CHAPTERS --

0:00 – Introduction

3:19 – What inspired Carter Johnson to pursue piano? How has the music culture on Vancouver Islandinfluenced Carter Johnson?

4:08 – What were the most important lessons that CarterJohnson learned from Shelley Roberts, his teacher?

5:30 – The importance of teaching and learning

9:15 – Carter Johnson studied music at the University ofBritish Columbia

15:46 – Carter Johnson on Schubert and his lieder

16:45 – Music requires well-roundedness

18:40 – Carter Johnson pursued a Master of Music atJuilliard and a Doctor of Musical Arts at Yale School of Music

19:52 – Carter Johnson performed, and STILL PERFORMS, withAngela Hewitt!!!

24:15 – What were the most important lessons that CarterJohnson learned from Angela Hewitt?

29:13 – What inspired Carter Johnson to compete in theDublin International Piano Competition?

30:41 – Carter Johnson’s road to winning 1stprize at the 2025 Dublin International Piano Competition

35:39 – The 2025 Van Cliburn Competition took place just 5DAYS AFTER CARTER JOHNSON WON DUBLIN!

38:13 – Carter Johnson explains the importance ofmaintaining a good COMPETITION MINDSET!

46:41 – The situation that pianists face with competitionsand careers

50:19 – Carter Johnson’s competed at the Cliburn…WITH ANINJURED ARM??!!!

57:54 – What were the most important lessons that CarterJohnson learned from the Cliburn?

1:02:12 – What inspired Carter Johnson to “Hone In onHonens”?

1:04:13 – To what extent had Carter Johnson’s experiences atDublin and at the Cliburn influence his strategy at Honens?

1:05:59 – Carter Johnson’s approach to “Fracture” by ImanHabibi

1:11:06 – Carter Johnson’s journey through Honens

1:14:54 – What is musicality to Carter Johnson?

1:17:04 – What is the Complete Artist to Carter Johnson?

1:18:45 – What are the greatest misconceptions that CarterJohnson has heard from other people about classical music?

1:24:14 – What’s the point of learning music?

1:31:39 – What are the most rewarding aspects of CarterJohnson’s career? What are the mostimportant lessons that Carter Johnson has learned from his career?

1:33:18 – What’s next for Carter Johnson?

1:33:53 – Carter Johnson’s advice for aspiring classicalmusicians, and remarks towards his fans!

At age 16, he became a major prize winner at the Olympics ofPiano, the International Chopin Competition.

To this day, he holds the record as the youngest prize winner in the competition’s history.

The great Martha Argerich enjoyed his performance and sawhim as one of the next great pianists.

This is the Legend of Tony Yike Yang.

On Fryderyk Chopin’s birthday, join Amos Vang and Tony YikeYang as the two pianists reminisce on Tony’s successful Road to Warsaw, hisexperience meeting Martha Argerich, the lessons that he has learned from hiscareer, and the most important lessons that he has learned in his career.

Tony’s website: https://www.tonyyikeyang.com/

Tony’s Instagram: @tonyyikeyang

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Golden Hour by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Other music by Amos Vang and by Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin.

-- CHAPTERS --

0:00 – Introduction

4:30 – What inspired Tony Yike Yang to pursue piano?

6:27 – Who and what were Tony Yike Yang’s musicalinfluences?

11:07 – Tony Yike Yang studied at the Taylor Academy and at Juilliard Pre-College

15:25 – What are the similarities and differences betweenTaylor Academy and Juilliard Pre-College?

20:57 – Music and sports have one thing in common: community and marquee events are important!

26:24 – Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony are the most importantmusical focal points for Tony Yike Yang!

30:55 – What inspired Tony Yike Yang to embark on the Roadto Warsaw?

34:10 – The 2010 International Chopin Competition was aHIGHLY impressive year! It set the tonefor future International Chopin Competitions!

38:44 – Tony Yike Yang at the 2014 Canadian ChopinCompetition!

50:56 – Tony Yike Yang at the 2015 International ChopinCompetition!

55:04 – What was Tony Yike Yang feeling and thinking at the2015 International Chopin Competition?

55:52 – Will Martha Argerich still like me?

1:02:48 – Tony Yike Yang became the YOUNGEST PRIZE WINNER inthe history of the International Chopin Competition!

1:07:10 – Dang Thai Son did not think Tony Yike Yang wouldmake the finals! Tony proved him wrong!

1:08:23 – What were Tony Yike Yang’s favorite moments at the2015 International Chopin Competition? Spoiler: FOOD!

1:16:31 – Tony Yike Yang performed at Zelazowa Wola,Chopin’s birthplace!

1:17:54 – What were the most important lessons that TonyYike Yang learned from the 2015 International Chopin Competition?

1:25:58 – Chopin and post-2020

1:29:23 – Tony Yike Yang competed at the Cliburn Competition

1:31:49 – The scrutiny at the Chopin Competition isextremely high!

1:40:02 – What is musicality to Tony Yike Yang?

1:47:09 – Tony Yike Yang and Amos Vang explain the greatestmisconceptions that he has experienced about classical music and piano?

1:47:39 – Amos Vang explains the misconceptions thatclassical music face in Canada, from a personal and wider societal standpoint

1:52:26 – Tony Yike Yang explains the situation thatclassical music faces in the world, from a personal and wider societalstandpoint

1:55:08 – Many people prefer to numb themselves with loud,boisterous music rather than confront their feelings in an honest way

2:05:37 – What are the most rewarding things and mostimportant lessons that Tony Yike Yang has experienced and learned in hiscareer?

2:10:01 – Tony Yike Yang addresses his fans and gives somecareer advice for classical music!

#chopin#chopincompetition#chopin2025 #cliburn #cliburncompetition#vancliburn#tonyyikeyang #piano #janinafialkowska #virtuosity #classicalmusic