Witness a champion! Eric Lu just conquered the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, claiming First Prize in one of classical music's most prestigious competitions—held only once every five years and watched by millions worldwide. Now he brings his triumphant, prize-winning interpretations straight from the Warsaw stage to Portland. This is your chance to hear a newly crowned Chopin Competition winner in the intimate acoustics of Lincoln Performance Hall, performing the electrifying repertoire that captivated international judges and earned him global acclaim. 

Here's what makes this even more remarkable: Portland Piano International booked Lu eighteen months ago, well before his historic victory—proof of the sharp curatorial instinct that has consistently brought tomorrow's legends to Portland for nearly 50 years. Lu was originally scheduled for May 2024 but postponed due to a hand injury. Now, after recovery and competition triumph, the 27-year-old virtuoso finally arrives for his long-awaited Portland debut.

Lu's program traces his artistic journey through recovery and competition triumph. Schumann's Arabeske, op. 18 and Schubert's Four Impromptus, op. posth. 142, D. 935—works he recorded for Warner Classics and has perfected through intensive focus—open the afternoon with lyric poetry and virtuosic dialogue. After intermission, Chopin's Polonaise in B-flat Major, op. 71, no. 2 and the monumental Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, op. 58 showcase the very repertoire that helped Lu claim victory in Warsaw. Already the first American to win the Leeds Competition since Murray Perahia in 1972, Lu now joins the ranks of legendary Chopin Competition winners including Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman, and Maurizio Pollini. After the wait, after the recovery, after the triumph—he's finally here.