Grand Prize Winner
Pictured from left to right: Joshua Mhoon, Kayden Kelly, Clayton Stephenson, CSO Music Director Louis Langrée
Photos by JP Leong/courtesy Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Clayton Stephenson Wins Grand Prize
The Nina Simone Piano Competition culminated its inaugural season with concerto finals on Friday evening (October 6, 2023) with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Louis Langrée.
Clayton Stephenson, 23, performed Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 before a live audience and jury. At the conclusion of the evening, the jury awarded him the grand prize of $50,000 (and Gold/First in the Artists Division), and performance opportunities.
The other prizes awarded were:
Joshua Mhoon (Artists Division): Silver Medal/Second, $20,000
Kayden Kelly (Seniors Division): Gold Medal/First, $10,000*
*Kayden Kelly received his medal for First Place in the Seniors Division at the conclusion of the initial rounds in June 2023
These musicians from the Finals (June 24, 2023) were selected to perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on October 6, 2023, under the baton of Louis Langrée:
Clayton Stephenson (Artists Division), performing TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op.23
Joshua Mhoon (Artists Division), performing RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18
Kayden Kelly (Seniors Division), performing LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major
