Boyle Arts Festival is delighted to present three outstanding young pianists from the next generation of Irish musical talent: Alexander Platsas, Jayden Liu and Boyle’s own Lenny Chen.
All three performers have earned distinction through national competitions, conservatoire awards and exceptional performances both in Ireland and abroad. Their programme will showcase a rich variety of piano music, from the brilliance of Beethoven and the colour of Debussy to the lyricism of Grieg, the virtuosity of Liszt and the drama of Chopin.
Alex Platsas, 16 years old, is an aspiring young pianist who started lessons at the age of eight and currently studies with Dr. Marianna Prjevalskaya at the TU Dublin Conservatoire. Over the years, he has won many prizes in various competitions such as the Castleknock Music Festival, Newpark Music Festival, TUD Conservatoire Competitions, and Feis Ceoil. This year, he was awarded first prize in three different competitions, including the Mai-Byrne Raymond Cup at the TU Dublin Conservatoire. He is actively performing in both recitals and competitions, continuing to develop his musicality and technique.
Jayden Liu, 13 years old, began studying piano at the age of six. He has achieved Distinction in ABRSM Grades 1–6 and TU Dublin Conservatoire Grades 6–8, and currently studies with Shirin Goudarzi-Tobin at TuDublin Conservatoire. In 2025, he won 1st Prize in the Junior Pianoforte Duet (B) at Feis Ceoil, alongside multiple Very Highly Commended awards. At the TuDublin Conservatoire Competitions (2025–2026), he was awarded 1st Prize in both solo and duet categories, including Junior Keyboard Repertoire U14 and Piano Duet U18. In May 2026, Jayden was awarded the TuDublin Conservatoire Junior Keyboard Bursary. He continues to develop as a thoughtful young musician with a strong artistic voice.
Lenny Chen, 15 years old and from Boyle, is currently studying at the Junior Conservatoire of TU Dublin under Shirin Goudarzi-Tobin. A passionate and dedicated musician, he has distinguished himself in competitions and performances both nationally and internationally. In 2023, Lenny made his concerto debut at Music Fest Perugia in Italy, performing with the Orchestra delle Cento Città under the baton of Marius Stravinsky. In the summer of 2025, he reached another milestone with his notable performance at the renowned Van Cliburn Hall in Fort Worth. In 2026, he was selected to participate in the Young Pianists Programme of the Dublin International Piano Competition.
This special recital offers audiences the opportunity to hear some of Ireland’s most promising young musicians as they share their artistry, technical skill and passion for the piano.
