Pianists flourish in Kingston at Bader & Overton Canadian Piano Competition

Three competitors received cash prizes for being in the finals.

Three budding classical pianists took home cash prizes in the 2026 Bader & Overton Canadian Piano Competition.

The winners were announced after Saturday's performance at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.

Eric Guo won the $20,000 Isabel Overton Bader, Clifford Overton and Francoise Landry Prize for coming in first place. The Toronto-native also won $1,000 for the Woodland Wealth Prize for the Outstanding Performance of the Commissioned Work by an Indigenous Composer.

Second place went to Toronto-born Kevin Wang who took the Margaret Foster and Katherine Foster Prize. He won $10,000 plus another $1,000 for winning the Bader Family Audience Prize.

Naomi Wong of Vancouver finished third receiving the Marion Dick Memorial Prize of $5,000. She also won $1,000 for the Irène Bujara Prize for the Most Outstanding Performance of a Work by a Woman Composer.

A total of six pianists were selected for the competition from applicants across Canada. The three finalists each performed a musical work inspired by diversity and a creative dimension, and a concerto performance before a live audience and distinguished jury.

Story by Ken Hashizume

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