Kuok Wai-Lio
Born in Macau in 1989, Kuok-Wai began his piano studies at the age of five. In 1997 he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and in 2006 he entered the Curtis Institute.
Most recently, Kuok-Wai has been working regularly with András Schiff at international master classes and festivals in Europe. Kuok-Wai has also performed with the Macau Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Curtis Chamber Orchestra, Russian Symphony Orchestra, and Camerata Salzburg, and has given recitals in Japan, Germany and Italy. Kuok-Wai has received prizes in international piano competitions, including the Fulbright, Gina Bachauer, Seiler, Steinway, Ettlingen, and Chopin (Tokyo).
In January 2004, he was awarded a Commendation of Merit given by the Chief Executive of Macau. That same year, he was invited to perform for the President of China, Hu Jintao, at the fifth anniversary of Macau’s handover to China.