Biography

Eighteen-year-old James Napoleon Lai began learning piano at the age of five under the guidance of his mother, Ms. Holly Hester. He is currently studying with Professor Aaron Shorr and Professor Fali Pavri at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the ABRSM Scholarship.

Throughout his musical journey, James has triumphed in numerous local, national, and international piano competitions. His early accolades include winning the 2^nd prize at the Asia International Music Competition in 2015, 2^nd prize at the Osaka International Music Competition in 2016. In 2018, James was awarded the most outstanding platinum award in the 7^th Singapore Performers’ Festival & Chamber Music Competition, and also won 2^nd Prize at the Indonesia Steinway Youth Piano Competition. In 2020, James secured the first place at the Indonesia Steinway Youth Piano Competition and represented Indonesia in the Steinway’s Asia Pacific Regional Finals. He also won 1^st prize at the UCSI International Festival & Competition, earning a scholarship to attend Wells Cathedral School. In 2022, James was invited to join the Adam Gyorgy Castle Academy in Hungary and performed the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor with Budafok Dohnanyi Orchestra in Budapest under the baton of Gabor Werner. In 2024, James became the First Prize winner of the Professional Junior Category at the Indonesia International Piano Competition, performing Schumann Piano concerto with Jakarta Concert Orchestra under the baton of Avip Priatna.

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James is also an experienced collaborative pianist. In 2022, James was invited to be the accompanist for the vocalists at the second Ken Steven International Choral Festival (KICF) Gala Concert. In 2023, James performed Grieg Holberg Suite with a string quartet in the third KICF Gala Concert. James has also accompanied violinists, vocalists, and choirs at his high school in Methodist Charles Wesley.

James’s musical journey are enriched by masterclasses with Elisabeth Leonskaja, Steven Osborne, Pascal Nemirovski, Ian Jones, Vitaly Pisarenko, John Byrne, Andreas Frölich, Ory Shihor, Steven Spooner, Adam Gyorgy, Avguste Antonov and others.