American pianist Eric Lu won the top prize at the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, the contest’s Polish organisers said Tuesday.

The competition — held every five years in Frederic Chopin’s homeland — is seen as a gateway to classical music glory, with winners going on to play top global venues and sign recording deals.

“This is a dream come true,” Lu, 27, told reporters in Warsaw, thanking “all the Chopin lovers around the world”.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Lu participated in the competition’s 2015 edition, finishing fourth.

Pianists vying for the top prize performed in a multi-stage contest to showcase their skills in various musical forms composed by Chopin, including polonaises, sonatas and mazurkas.

It culminated with a final r

See Full Page