UI Student Wins Platinum Award at International Piano Competition

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian student Eleora Josephine Widjojo showcased Indonesia’s young musical talent on the international stage after winning a Platinum Award at the Symphony Classical International Music Youth Competition 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.

Eleora, a 2024 student of the Japanese Studies Program at the Faculty of Humanities (FIB), University of Indonesia (UI), received the award in classical piano category at Katsushika Symphony Hills.

“At first, I felt nervous because this was my first experience performing abroad. The competitors came from various countries and had excellent abilities,” Eleora said in a statement on Monday, September 7, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

However, she said the challenge encouraged her to perform at her best. For her, performing on stage was not only about winning or losing, but also an opportunity to share stories through music.

For Eleora, the Platinum Award carries deep personal meaning. “I feel honored to perform on an international stage and play before an international jury and global audience,” she said.

“The long process I went through finally paid off. From this experience, I learned that hard work, courage and self-confidence can take us further,” she added.

The competition is one of the international classical music events held annually, with major Asian cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Seoul having previously hosted the event.

The Symphony Classical International Youth Music Competition 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, was held in early September 2026, with the performance rounds taking place around September 7-8, 2026. Regional qualifying rounds, including those in Thailand, had been held earlier from February to March 2026.

This year’s competition was held in Tokyo and brought together young musicians from various countries. The Advanced category, in which Eleora competed, was mainly attended by participants from Japan, China, South Korea and Thailand.

Eleora competed in the classical piano category, performing Passacaglia by German Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. Her precise playing, clear articulation and deep interpretation of the piece earned her the highest evaluation from the international jury.

Her performance was further highlighted by its setting at Mozart Hall, the main performance venue featuring acoustics specifically designed for classical music.

Eleora’s participation in Tokyo followed a national selection after she previously won a Diamond Award at the 2026 Indonesia National Piano Festival organized by FIMO International.

The achievement also demonstrates that UI students, particularly those from the Japanese Studies Program at FIB, can excel beyond academics by developing interests and talents in fields such as music.

“Support from the UI community, particularly FIB, played an important role. Learning Japanese ethics and culture on campus also helped me develop my classical piano talent on the international stage. This achievement does not belong to me alone, but also to the entire Japanese Studies Program family at UI,” she concluded. ***