We have made it to the tenth and final heats episode of the season with performances this week by pianists William Cheah and Sean Kim playing programmes with works by Chopin, Ravel, Beethoven, and Stephen Hough. Keep reading to learn more about William and Sean.
William Cheah
Piano
William Cheah earned his Licentiate Diploma with Distinction in Piano (LMusA) at age 13 and was invited to perform Liszt’s Wilde Jagd at the AMEB Diplomas Ceremony. He is also a distinction-level violinist (AMusA), and an active member of several orchestras, chamber ensembles, and choirs. In 2024, he won the Mixed Ensemble Prize and the AUSTA String Prize at Musica Viva’s Strike A Chord competition. He has also been a national finalist in the MRC Baroque Competition and recently performed Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto at major venues across Europe, including Vienna’s Muth Great Hall and Budapest’s Szent István Academy.
Beyond music, William is a top-ranked young mathematician. He was awarded a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad at 14 and a Perfect Score and Gold medal at this year’s Australian Mathematical Olympiad. He is Australia’s first recipient of the global Spirit of Ramanujan Award and at age 11, was the youngest ever winner of the Premier’s VCE Academic Excellence Award in Mathematical Methods. As a state-level swimmer, fencer, chess player, and captain of the Scotch College 1st Badminton team, William is passionate about the connections between music, mathematics, and sport, and hopes to integrate these fields to make a lasting impact.
William will perform:
- Chopin: Etude Op. 25 No. 6
- Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, Ondine
- Stephen Hough: My Favourite Things
Sean Kim
Piano
Sean Kim is a Korean-Australian pianist gaining recognition for his expressive artistry and steady dedication to music. Raised in Brisbane, he began playing the piano at the age four, developing a deep passion for classical music. His formative years included AMEB studies and participation in the Queensland Young Conservatorium program, where he quickly established himself in Queensland’s competitive piano scene, earning top prizes in the Brisbane Eisteddfod and Queensland Piano Competition. Alongside piano, he also studied violin and double bass, which played a significant role in shaping his musical identity.
His musical development led him to pursue a Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with First-Class Honours in 2024 under the guidance of Professor Ian Holtham and Konstantin Shamray. During his studies, he was awarded multiple scholarships, including the Pearis Rodger Scholarship, DW Gardiner Memorial Award, and Grace Funston Scholarship, in recognition of his artistic excellence.
Currently, Sean is studying under Steinway Artist Andreas Boyde, renowned for his performances of Brahms’ complete piano works and collaborations with leading orchestras worldwide. He has also participated in international masterclasses with acclaimed pianists such as Kirill Gerstein, Konrad Engel, Wolfram Schmidt-Leonardi, and Konstantin Lifschitz, continually broadening his musical perspective.
Beyond performance, Sean is a dedicated piano teacher and accompanist, actively contributing to Melbourne’s vibrant music community. His ongoing development as an artist is driven by a deep passion for uncovering the subtle beauty within music, refining his technique with every note, and to constantly seek connections with audiences through performances that resonate with the soul.
Sean will perform:
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”
- Chopin: Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1