NTD:s 8:e internationella pianotävling presenterar semifinalisterna | NTD NYHETER

Taking now to Performing Arts, Dave, and after two days of competition, the preliminary round of our own NTD's 8th International Piano Competition concludes. Now the semi-finalists are announced. NTD's Niku Bani has that story. Ten countries, twenty pianists, and plenty of keys at stake. NTD's 8th International Piano Competition enters its second and final day of preliminaries, where the last contestants hope to play their way into the semi-finals. But once the lights come on and it's time to perform, the contest may not be with the judges. It's you and your ego. You and your ego. It's a constant battle. It's two worlds clashing. So you have to be prepared, and also it's a matter of faith. Whenever we are distracted by the other things, like nerves and anxiety, we have to go back to music. If we only focus on how to interpret this music and how to play this music, then we can erase those bad emotions. Despite the competition and the pressure that comes with it, for some the experience entails more. It's such a great family to be connected with. All the people who work here love their job. And the staff are so nice. It doesn't feel like a competition. It's probably the only piece that feels like a competition when you're on stage. But every other time you feel like you're in a host family. At the heart of NTD's International Piano Competition is a mission to preserve and promote classical music. Now we see this on stage where a new generation of musicians are taking these centuries-old pieces and bringing them back to life. The vision, the values of the competition, honestly, I was touched. I was touched because I love it. I love it. For this competition, I was able to focus on this era. So I feel like I dive into the essence of music. Classical music to me is a form of communication and a form of language to me. It's about kind of translating what the composer wrote back in the day and present it through my lens to the audience. After two days of performances, 12 pianists are moving on to the semifinals this Friday with a special chance to play the competition's special commissioned piece. Nikubani, NTD News, New York.