AUK Student Wins Chopin Piano Competition

Faisal G. Al-Bahairi, an AUK sophomore majoring in English, won first prize at the inaugural Gulf International Chopin Piano Competition on March 20, 2010. Al-Bahairi competed against more than eighty talented participants from around the world, including those from the Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries, Poland, Armenia, and several Asian nations.

Al-Bahairi said, "I am so happy to have won. The competition was steep and everyone was intense. My one concern was half of the participants were my friends, all excellent pianists. We were all afraid that one of us would win and the others would be upset. But we agreed beforehand, that no matter what, nothing would change. We would stay friends and support each other."





Along with taking first prize in the over 12 competition, Al-Bahairi also won the Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Sabah Special Prize, the Hungarian Embassy Prize for best performance of a Liszt piece, and best Kuwaiti participant prize. Al-Bahairi said, "I am especially proud that I was able to represent my country. I decided for the performance to wear a dishdasha, my national dress. I think it is important to let people know, you can be very interested in international culture, but still be proud of your own country and people."

Al-Bahairi is a piano student of Dr. Elena Tsenkova, and he would "like to thank her greatly for all of her help and support."