Yamaha International Highlight Concert
Performances by Students of Yamaha Music School Around the World
The Yamaha International Highlight Concert marks the culmination of the year’s accomplishments by Yamaha Music School students.
The concert brought together selected high-level students from around the world, regardless of genre, including original compositions written by the students themselves, classical piano pieces, and bands.
Fifteen pairs of students from Korea, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Canada, USA, and Japan participated on that day.
One of the concert’s highlights is an improvisation performance, where students—fuelled by creativity and musicality—craft an original piece based on a short melody suggested by the audience.
This embodies Yamaha Music School’s philosophy of “fostering creativity” in music education and demonstrates the transformative power of musical expression.
The concert video was released as an online premiere on May 16th (Sat) at 11:00 AM (JST), on our YouTube channel. Please visit our YouTube channel and enjoy the breathtaking performances of Yamaha Music School students from around the world.
Performers
- Kim Hael (12), Moon Scarlett Yura (11), Park Juha (12), Roh Ahyeon (12), Choi Seungwon (14), Park Jeik (11), Ra Gyubin (11) Korea
- Adam Wong Zi Xuan (10) / Malaysia
- Ting Leung (12) / China
- Yee Hong Shyan (14) / Singapore
- Lee Yeonwoo (9) / Korea
- Lee Hyoseo (13) / Korea
- Puri Puengpipattrakul (14) / Thailand
- Vanessa Christy Saimima (16) / Indonesia
- Improvisation
- Nop Nimmanahaeminda (17) / Thailand
- Zoe Augusto Pook (14) / Indonesia
- Jeong Inah (11) / Korea
- Chang, Zong-Nong (10) / Taiwan
- Keira Chung (12) / Canada
- Aaron Hsieh (14) / USA
- Mizuho Murata (13) / Japan
- One song, One dream, One light -YAMAHA- (YAMAHA BOYS AND GIRLS CHOIR) / Korea
Special Stage
Kim Hael (12), Moon Scarlett Yura (11), Park Juha (12), Roh Ahyeon (12), Choi Seungwon (14), Park Jeik (11), Ra Gyubin (11) Korea
Time of Our Life (K-pop Cover)
Day 6
<Time of Our Life> is the product of hope that our mundane days will be left as special memories. Hopefully, the current performance will be a beautiful memory that will be remembered by the artists and the audience in the years to come.
Adam Wong Zi Xuan (10) / Malaysia
The Investigator (Adam Wong Zi Xuan) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Piano Solo
I chose to compose this piece because I find investigators very fascinating. They are clever, mysterious, and determined, and I wanted to capture that feeling in music. Through this piece, I tried to imagine the suspense, excitement, and bravery of an investigator chasing after a dangerous criminal.
Ting Leung (12) / China
Iridescent (Ting Leung) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Piano Solo
In memory of my school days, I blend the mottled light and shadows of that period into the piano keys — disaggregated chords portray morning dew falling, dissonant intervals hiding the restlessness of youth, and complex rhythms echoing the heartbeat of adolescence. When the confused emotions lingered at my fingertips in the ending notes, a rainbow of youth will eventually rise.
Yee Hong Shyan (14) / Singapore
Sky Painter (Yee Hong Shyan) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Electone Solo
One evening, as I waited for the bus home, I looked up and saw the sky bathed in brilliant gold, deep orange and streaks of purple. The breathtaking colours lifted my spirits and stirred a long-forgotten memory. I thought of my favourite childhood book, Sky Color, and imagined a boy painting the sky with vibrant hues. With this piece, I wanted to recreate that childhood fantasy in music.
Lee Yeonwoo (9) / Korea
The Bicycle in the Sky (Lee Yeonwoo) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Ensemble
My dream is to be a scientist who creates inventions that bring joy to people. Last year, when playing the OST of Howl’s Moving Castle with my friends in an ensemble concert, an idea of creating a flying bicycle came to me and allowed me to provide people with the pleasure of flying. I envisioned the whole experience of riding the bicycle, flying in the blue sky, and traveling through large fluffy clouds. This is the vision that I had in mind when writing this piece. And shall we ride this aerobicycle together and rise flying up out of the earth to the heavens?
Lee Hyoseo (13) / Korea
Cloudy (Lee Hyoseo) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Ensemble
This piece was written based on a mountain hike. It starts with the happiness of being at the beginning but after a while when you are tired of the work there comes a time when you want to quit. However, it is well worth the struggle that you make to the top and get a spectacular show of the world laid out beneath you. The ten years I spent at Yamaha Music School have been no exception as it has been both happy and challenging, yet music finally provided me with the feeling of success and overwhelming feeling. It is my fervent hope to be able to share that experience and feeling with you.
Puri Puengpipattrakul (14) / Thailand
Lost in the Storm (Puri Puengpipattrakul) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Piano Solo
This composition was inspired by a motif I created, expanded while hearing heavy rain. It made me think of the animation movie “Flow” leading to the idea of a storm before the flood. I then imagined a young wolf who got separated from its pack during the storm, feeling frustrated, lonely, disappointed and hopeful.
Vanessa Christy Saimima (16) / Indonesia
The Farewell Song “Until We Meet Again” (Vanessa Christy Saimima) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Ensemble
This song is really special to me because it marks the end of a big chapter in my life, the closing of my journey with JOC, which comes to an end this year. JOC has played a huge role in my growth in music and in learning how to express myself through my compositions. Performing this piece will be my way of saying goodbye and giving thanks for all the memories, lessons, and amazing people I’ve met along the way. It’s like my final letter to everyone who has supported me, and I hope it leaves a piece of my heart with the audience.
Improvisation
Multinational
Mizuho Murata (13), Rio Matsui(13) / Japan
The performers choose one of the melodies collected from the audience that day and improvise in their own style in a relay format.
A song created by the audience and performers was reverberated throughout the concert hall!
Improvised performance is to play spontaneously by expressing the feelings and ideas that occur in one's mind.
Yamaha Music School aims to develop the student's ability to express music creatively by learning music comprehensively.
Nop Nimmanahaeminda (17) / Thailand
Cuban Paradiso (Nop Nimmanahaeminda) / Yamaha Electone Festival 2024, Junior 2 Finalist / ELECTONE SOLO
I chose this piece because it reflects my love for rhythm and melodies and it challenges me to express both strength and sensitivity. This piece I will perform is my own Electone arrangement called “Cuban Paradiso”, which won the Grand Prize for Senior Section at the Asia-Pacific Electone Festival 2024.
Zoe Augusto Pook (14) / Indonesia
Études de concert, Op.35 No. 2 “Automne” (Cécile Chaminade) / Yamaha Junior Piano Competition 2025, Div. D 1st Prize / Ensemble
I chose this piece because I recently heard a performance of it — and the memory is still so vivid. The opening captured me immediately, mellow but full of quiet intensity. As the piece unfolded, its lyrical melancholy and hidden technical challenges moved me deeply. The sweeping arpeggios, rich harmonies, and sudden bursts of passion felt like autumn itself — reflective, unpredictable, quietly powerful.
Jeong Inah (11) / Korea
Monster’s Happy Birthday party (Jeong Inah) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Ensemble
I wrote this work because I envisioned that my neighbor is a monster. But don’t worry, he’s not scary!
He is a funny little monster and my one and only friend. He has invited me to his birthday party today. We are going to have some fun together at Monster’s birthday party?
Chang, Zong-Nong (10) / Taiwan
Ten-Minute Adventure (Chang, Zong-Nong) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Piano Solo
In my school life, I treasure every ten-minute break, especially the time playing tag with my classmates. That’s why I want to express those brief but joyful moments through music and share them with everyone. I also put the excitement of playing tag into this piece, so that we can all recall the wonderful times of playing games during break.
Keira Chung (12) / Canada
Toucan (2can) Dance(Keira Chung) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Piano Duet
This colourful latin-style piano duet reminded us of the colourful toucan bird from South America. It’s a cheerful song that feels like we are watching “two” toucans, who are have fun while learning to dance together! Listen for many surprises along the way, and be ready to join the fun!
Aaron Hsieh (14) / USA
Ava and Me (Aaron Hsieh) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Ensemble
I thought the pianica and piano showed a balance between similarity and difference, much like my relationship with my sister Ava, who is two years younger than me. Even though our personalities differ, we are alike in many ways and have a strong sibling bond that can be competitive, supportive, loving, and full of fights. I could never explain these feelings to my parents, so I composed something that expresses our connection.
Mizuho Murata (13) / Japan
Symphonic Suite “To the Future" I. Encounter II. Wavering III. Ray of Hope (Mizuho Murata) / JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT / Ensemble
I composed this piece because I wanted to create a work that I could perform with Rio — with whom I’ve studied music since childhood. This piece captures the act of facing music: the joy of meeting a new piece, the doubts that arise while playing it, and the joy of having something to aim for.
One song, One dream, One light -YAMAHA- (YAMAHA BOYS AND GIRLS CHOIR) / Korea
This piece was created based on one of the works awarded in the “Lyrics and Composition Challenge” conducted last year for this concert. Countless passions for music have come together as one, and today, they will shine together through our voices.
What is the Yamaha International Highlight Concert?
The first Yamaha International Highlight Concert (YIHC) was held in Singapore in 2019.
Established as the top Yamaha Music School (YMS) concert worldwide, the YIHC showcases high-level performances by Yamaha students from countries around the world.
This concert will feature students who have participated in various concerts organized by Yamaha worldwide, including the Junior Original Concert (JOC), Yamaha Electone Festival (YEF), Yamaha Junior Piano Competition (YJPC), and Popular Music Course (PMC).
Presented by Yamaha Music Korea Ltd. and YAMAHA CORPORATION
Supported by YAMAHA MUSIC FOUNDATION
(*) For information about each "Performance History" on the program, please refer to the consent below, "What is the YAMAHA INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHT CONCERT?"
What is Yamaha Music School?
The philosophy of Yamaha Music School is "To foster the musical sensitivity that everyone is born with, to develop the ability to enjoy creating and playing the music of their own and ultimately share the joy of music with anyone."
We are actively involved in training teachers, developing teaching materials, implementing a Yamaha Grade Examination System, and holding concerts.
In addition, we are promoting the popularization of music and educational activities while also working on the development of schools throughout Japan as well as staff training.
Yamaha Music School first opened in Japan in 1954, followed by the first international location in Los Angeles, USA in 1964, and now over 160,000 students learn and experience the joy of music around the world.

