Inaugural AUS Piano Festival celebrates the next generation of musical talent

Bringing together 21 promising musicians, the festival reflects AUS’ vision to redefine music education and cultural engagement in the UAE

American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted its inaugural AUS Piano Festival from May 2 to 4, 2025, setting a new benchmark for musical and cultural engagement within the university and across the UAE. With its inaugural debut under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, the festival brought together young pianists, distinguished educators and members of the public to celebrate creativity, talent and the future of the performing arts at AUS.

Opened to pianists aged 14 to 22 residing in the UAE, the AUS Piano Festival welcomed both skilled amateurs and advanced students with at least three years of formal training. Applicants submitted pre-screening videos, and all were invited to perform live following a careful selection process.

"The AUS Piano Festival embodies strategic focus on placing creativity, culture and innovation at the center of the academic experience," said Dr. Tod A. Laursen, Chancellor of AUS. "By investing in the performing arts, AUS is nurturing future leaders and reinforcing its role as a catalyst for cultural and educational excellence across the region."

The final rounds of the competition featured the young pianists, with 14 participants competing in the advanced category and seven in the amateur category. Over three days of performances, competitors demonstrated a wide range of technical mastery and musical interpretation before an audience and a distinguished panel of jurors. Serving as jurors were Fatima Alhashmi, Artist-in-Residence at AUS; Natalia Tykhonova (Mills), Adjunct Professor of Music at AUS; Jane Yevheniya Shumilova, Piano Instructor and Accompanist at AUS; Jelena Dukic, Adjunct Piano Professor at AUS and Faculty Member at Nord Anglia International School; Lina Hejjawi, Music Theory and Ear Training Faculty and Outreach Manager at AUS; and Ioannis Potamousis, Head of Keyboard Studies at Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Adjunct Piano Faculty at New York University Abu Dhabi.

"The AUS Piano Festival was designed to inspire young musicians across the UAE and provide them with a platform to grow artistically and professionally," said Al Hashemi, Artist in Residence at AUS. "It reflects our commitment to advancing the performing arts at AUS and building a foundation for future creative achievement."

First, second and third place winners were named in both the advanced and amateur categories. In addition to the main prizes, three special awards were presented: The Alumni Association’s Choice Award, the Audience Award for the most popular performance as voted by attendees, the award for Best Original Arrangement of a Native Song, and the award for Best Performance of a Ravel Work. 

"The AUS Piano Festival captured the spirit of music as a force that inspires, connects and elevates. Witnessing these young musicians perform with such skill, passion and authenticity was truly moving," said Jennifer Laursen, Specialist in Community Engagement and Outreach at AUS. "Their performances reminded us that music, especially in the hands of the next generation, has the power to transcend boundaries and create lasting impact within our communities."

The AUS Piano Festival was supported by two major sponsors: the AUS Alumni Association, which sponsored the festival prizes and presented a special Alumni Association Choice Award, and House of Pianos, which provided a Steinway Model C grand piano for the competition.

The success of the AUS Piano Festival reflects the university’s broader vision for the performing arts, where music and theater are essential pillars of academic and creative life. Through the AUS Performing Arts Program—one of the few of its kind in the region—students gain opportunities to study performance and technical production while participating in concerts and theatrical productions that enrich their creative and professional development. For more information on the program, visit www.aus.edu/cas/performing-arts-program/about.