Hanna Anzai, a second-year student at Koriyama Seventh Junior High School, has won gold in the junior high school division of the 22nd International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia, regarded as the first step for young pianists toward a successful career.
　After winning the prize, Anzai, a resident of Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, said she felt a new sense of determination. "I want to continue polishing my skills so that I can become a professional pianist," she said.

　郡山市の安斎華（はんな）さん（郡山七中２年）は「第２２回ショパン国際ピアノコンクール　ｉｎ　ＡＳＩＡ」の中学生部門で金賞に輝いた。同コンクールは若手演奏家の登竜門とされており、安斎さんは「プロのピアニストになれるよう、もっと腕を磨いていきたい」と気持ちを新たにしている。　

　The competition is held every year with the aim of nurturing up-and-coming talents through Chopin's music. Internationally renowned pianists serve as jury members, and past winners have gone on to become active performers in Japan and abroad.
　In this year's competition, participants were evaluated based on video recordings of their performances, as a precaution against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

　同コンクールは、ショパンの曲を通じて実力あるピアニストを育成しようと毎年開かれている。世界的な演奏家が審査員を務め、大会で認められた受賞者らは国内外で活躍している。今年は新型コロナウイルスの影響で、演奏する様子を撮影した動画での審査となったが、日本をはじめアジア各国の若手ピアニストらが参加した。

　Fifty-seven participants competed in the final round of the junior high school division. Anzai performed Chopin's Etude in C major, Op. 10, No. 1 and Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38.
　"I could express the image I had of these pieces," she said.

　中学生部門の本大会には５７人が出場。安斎さんはショパンの「練習曲　作品１０―１」と「バラード第２番　作品３８」を演奏した。「自分なりのイメージを持って演奏することができた」という。

　When the results of the competition were announced online in mid-January, Anzai jumped for joy when she learned she had won the top prize in her category.
　Inspired by her two sisters, Anzai started learning the piano at the age of 3. She currently takes lessons from Maki Yamamoto, an instructor in Koriyama whose former students include Ryota Yamazaki, a promising pianist in his 20s who has won prizes in international competitions.
　"Anzai performs powerfully and energetically," said Yamamoto. "I'm looking forward to watching her grow and become even more of an artist in the future."

　１月中旬にインターネットで審査結果が発表され、目標にしていた金賞を受賞したことが分かると飛び上がって喜んだ。
　安斎さんは２人の姉の影響で３歳からピアノを習い始め、現在は同市の山本真希さんに師事している。世界的なピアニストを目指して演奏活動をしている山﨑亮汰さん（安積黎明高卒）も指導した山本さんは「（安斎さんは）演奏に勢いがある。これから成長し、さらに芸術性が高まっていくのが楽しみ」と期待する。

　"I really enjoy playing the piano," said Anzai, who dreams of becoming a versatile pianist who can handle a wide range of genres from classical to jazz and even pop music.
　"I want to become the kind of performer who moves people with my playing," she said.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　「とにかくピアノを弾くのが楽しい」と話す安斎さん。クラシックからジャズ、ポピュラーまで幅広く演奏できるピアニストになるのが夢だ。「聴いていただいた人に感動してもらえる演奏家になりたい」と目を輝かせた。

　【　２０２１年２月１４日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】