Singaporean pianist Rae Pung has already established an international profile as a performer and teacher and is now the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the upcoming 2026 Virtù d’Arte International Piano Competition & Festival. Her musical journey, which began at the age of three, has taken her across continents, from her early days taking private lessons with piano faculty at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, to earning her bachelor’s degree at the Oberlin Conservatory under the guidance of Stanislav Ioudenitch, and later to Italy, where she continues her studies with Ingrid Fliter and Boris Petrushansky at Fondazione Accademia Internazionale di Imola.
Medtner: Forgotten Melodies II, Op. 39: No. 5, Sonata tragica, Op. 39: No. 5, Sonata tragica
“I try to split my time evenly between Singapore and Italy,” Rae shared. “I have projects in both places, and I enjoy the balance between performing, learning, and organising new initiatives.”
Rae’s musical development has been deeply shaped by competitions, both the challenges and the triumphs. She began competing at the age of six and has since participated in more than thirty piano competitions around the world. “Competitions were essential for me when I was growing up,” she said. “As a child, you don’t often get the chance to perform in concerts, so competitions become the way to gain stage experience.”
Rae Pung
Her early experiences connected her with mentors who would later play important roles in her career. “When I was eight, I played all fifteen Bach Inventions at a festival, and one of the jurors was impressed by my ambition. He later wrote letters of recommendation for me to attend college, and he is now one of the jurors for Virtù d’Arte. It feels like a full-circle moment.”
Not every memory, however, was a positive one. Rae recalled a competition where the audience stayed completely silent- not offering any applause before or after her performance. “It was so strange and disheartening. I think they just weren’t clapping for anyone, but it really affected me on stage. You realise how much energy from the audience matters.” Experiences like this, both inspiring and challenging, helped shape her vision of what a more supportive and encouraging competition environment could look like.
The idea for Virtù d’Arte emerged from Rae’s time in Italy, where she discovered a more entrepreneurial approach to the arts. “In Imola, many of my classmates are not only performers but also founders of festivals, directors of music organisations, or even owners of record labels,” she explained. “They inspired me to think beyond performing, to create opportunities for others.”
Her experiences as both a competitor and a juror helped shape the philosophy behind the new event. “Because I have competed so recently, I understand the stress young musicians feel,” she said. “I wanted to build something that keeps the best parts of competitions: the motivation, the growth, the exposure, but removes the negativity that sometimes comes from harsh judging or lack of support. I believe jurors’ personalities make a big difference. Small gestures, like smiling or showing encouragement, can mean the world to a nervous young performer.”
Rae Pung
Planning Virtù d’Arte has been a major undertaking. “It started with assembling the jury. That took time because I wanted people who genuinely care about students’ development.” The event, organised with the support of Steinway Gallery Singapore, will take place over two days, November 28 and 29, 2026. The first day will showcase festival performances, while the second day will focus on the competition’s three categories. The prizes are generous, especially for young participants. “Our youngest category already has a first prize of 1,000 SGD,” Rae said with a smile. “We want to make this experience rewarding both artistically and practically.”
Virtù d’Arte will not end when the winners are announced. “Many competitions congratulate you and then disappear,” she said. “We plan to continue supporting our winners through post-competition events and performance opportunities, including a concerto festival in France next June. For a young pianist, playing with an orchestra is a dream, and I want to make that dream accessible.”
Rae’s dedication to fostering young talent is deeply personal. “In Singapore, opportunities for young musicians can be limited. It’s challenging for students to balance schoolwork and music, and opportunities for performance platforms can be difficult to find. I was homeschooled from age ten to focus on piano, but that’s not possible for everyone. I hope Virtù d’Arte can become a space where young musicians feel supported and inspired.”
Her organisational drive also comes from family influence. “My mother co-founded the music department at Taylor’s College in Sydney and has always been a huge part of my journey. She’s helping me build this competition, too. She knows what it takes to start something from scratch.”
Even with her growing responsibilities as an organiser, Rae continues to perform and record actively. Her upcoming album, featuring Chopin’s Sonata in B Minor and Beethoven’s Variations in C Minor, will be released in January 2026. “I just finished recording it two weeks ago,” she said. “But right now, my focus is on Virtù d’Arte. I want it to be a platform where young pianists can not only compete but truly grow.”
With her artistic insight, international perspective, and compassionate leadership, Rae Pung represents a new generation of musicians redefining success in classical music through empathy, innovation, and community.
To learn about Rae Pung and Virtù d’Arte International Piano Competition & Festival, visit her website https://www.raepung-pianist.com and https://www.vapianocompetition.com.
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