For immediate release                                                   April 24, 2008

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – Five senior contestants in the Twelfth Missouri Southern International Piano Competition were selected to compete in the final round following completion of the senior semifinal rounds today. They will compete for a Grand Prize of $15,000 and a debut in Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall). The second place winner will receive $10,000; third place $5,000 and Honorable Mention $2,500 each.

            The finalists are Avan Yu, 20, Canada; Lishan Xue, 22, China; Tian Lu, 22, China; Fang Zhang, 29, China; and Peggy Pei-zhang Sung, 20, Hong Kong. Avan Yu won the Junior Division first prize in the 2002 MSIPC.

            The Senior finals begin at 1 p.m. Friday in Taylor Performing Arts Center and continue until 4 p.m. The evening session will be from 7 to 9 p.m. followed by the announcement of the prize winners. Each contestant will play a 45 to 50 minute program of music including a complete sonata by either Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert, plus works of the contestant’s choice. The Competition rounds are open to the public free of charge.

            The top three winners will perform in the Gala Winners Concert on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Taylor. Admission to the Gala is $15, free to students and seniors 60 and older.        

The finalists and their performance times on Friday are:

1 p.m.  Avan Yu

2 p.m. Lishan Xue

3 p.m.  Tian Lu

7 p.m.  Fang Zhang

8 p.m.  Peggy  Pei-zhang Sung

             For additional information contact MSIPC at 417‑625‑9755, or email msipc@mssu.edu.