Eighteen-year-old Australian pianist Victor Dai is currently studying with Andrew Ball in his undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music on a scholarship generously supported by the George Stennett Award and the Olive Rees Prize. Prior to this, he undertook studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Clemens Leske, where he was awarded the John and Dorothy Vimpani Pianoforte Scholarship. Victor began his piano studies at the age of six, and shortly after was broadcast on radio station Fine Music 102.5FM (2MBSFM) in programs such as Young Performers and Emerging Artists. He was awarded a music scholarship to Newington College, where he graduated in 2015 as the recipient of several awards: First Prize of the Newington College Concerto Competition, Elizabeth Swain Trophy and Bellhouse Prize for Service to Music. During his time in high school he toured Europe in 2013, performing in many venues across Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. His Higher School Certificate Music Extension performances received a perfect score and he was nominated to perform in the Sydney Opera House for the Encore showcase. He also was awarded both his LMusA (AMEB) and LTCL (Trinity) diplomas by age fifteen. Victor has won numerous competitions and eisteddfods across Sydney, and was most recently awarded First Prize in the 2016 Kawai Piano Award. Other awards in the Sydney Eisteddfod categories include first prizes in Chopin U18, Bach U16, second prizes in the Russian Open Age, Piano Polyphony 18 & Over, and 19th Century 16 & Over. He was also awarded first prize in the Ryde Eisteddfod Open Piano Championship. After auditioning successfully for the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Royal Northern College of Music, he was awarded scholarships to all four institutions.
