Haydn Staples Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholarship Programme

Catherine Chang is in the final year of her Bachelor degree in Classical Piano Performance at the University of Auckland, studying under Richard Liu. In 2022, she was awarded runner-up and Peoples' Choice Award for the National Young Performer of the Year, as well as 'Best Performance of a New Zealand Work' at the National Piano Competition. In 2020, she was awarded runner-up and the 'Best Performance of a Classical Sonata' award at the New Zealand Junior Piano Competition. Other competition successes include first placings across IRMT, NSPAS, SAPACS and Tauranga Performing Arts Society competitions. She has performed in numerous concerts and events across Auckland from a young age – including a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 (Mvt 3) with the Auckland Philharmonia, as well as with the Auckland Youth Choir and Auckland Youth Orchestra. She frequently performs at various community engagements, including rest homes and retirement villages. Catherine was invited to perform at the recent VIP launch event of the Aston Martin DB12, on a Steinway ‘Crown Jewel Collection’ Spirio.

Henry Meng is a pianist and composer studying at the University of Auckland. He has been playing the piano since an early age and attended Westlake Boys’ High School. Henry has been a finalist in the 2019 and 2023 iterations of the Wallace National Piano Competition, as well as winning second place in the 2023 National Concerto Competition playing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3. Under the tutelage of Stephen De Pledge and Rae de Lisle, Henry has attained numerous accolades across a variety of regional competitions in the country, as well as performing in New York City. He has workshopped his original compositions with the Auckland Philharmonia as well as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Madeleine Xiao began learning the piano at age five, going on to study a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance at the age of 16. She is currently under the tutelage of Rae de Lisle, Bryan Sayer and Katherine Austin. Madeleine has achieved numerous top awards as well as scholarships where she has been generously supported by the Dame Malvina Major Foundation, Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation, AIMES North Harbour, Staples Education Foundation and Auckland Philharmonia. In 2022, Madeleine was a winner of the Auckland Youth Orchestra Piano Concerto Competition, where she received the opportunity to perform Ravel's Piano Concerto in G in a concert tour with the orchestra, including a final concert at the Auckland Town Hall. She also won the University of Auckland School of Music Concerto Competition. In 2023, Madeleine was selected to attend the Adam Chamber Music Festival in Nelson, working with the New Zealand String Quartet. She also played Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey in the Christchurch Town Hall and competing in the finale of the National Concerto Competition where she placed third. Later in October, Madeleine will be involved with the At the World’s Edge Festival where she was selected as an emerging artist. She will be touring and performing alongside internationally renowned musicians in many ensembles and events.