HK rising star pianist Aristo Sham to release new album in November

Aristo Sham, winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will release his new album "Timeline" worldwide on Nov. 7. The record features repertoire from his international tour, and follows his signing with Universal Music Hong Kong.

A photo of pianist Aristo Sham. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music Hong Kong]

"I am so excited to enter a new artistic arena through my partnership with Universal Music," Sham said, "and infinitely grateful to be entrusted with sharing my voice and visions in music, art and life, to a wider audience through the medium of recordings, hopefully contributing to new and profound experiences where we may push the frontiers of what we can do with art."

Sham enrolled in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Junior Music Program at age six. At age 10, he won the Ettlingen International Piano Competition for Young Pianists, followed by the Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition at 12. International media hailed him as a "musical prodigy."

Gramophone magazine described his Van Cliburn Competition performance in Fort Worth, Texas, as having "inspired a well-deserved ovation." Competing from May 21 to June 7, Sham prevailed over more than 300 contestants worldwide to become the first Hong Kong pianist to win this major international competition. He also received the Audience Award through global public voting, demonstrating an artistry that captivated both jury and listeners. Within two months, his name appeared in more than 800 news articles, while his competition performances accumulated more than 2 million streams across 125 countries.

Following his success, Sham embarked on a global tour, with sold-out performances in Hong Kong, China, and critically acclaimed concerts in Europe and the United States. This concert season, he will debut at the Seoul Arts Center in South Korea and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, before returning to perform across Europe and the United States.

Gary Chan, managing director of Universal Music Hong Kong and senior vice president of Universal Music Greater China, said, "Aristo radiates unique charm at the piano, making his victory truly well-deserved. We are thrilled to sign a Hong Kong winner of such international stature and collaborate on his global development."

The album cover art of Aristo Sham's new album "Timeline." [Image courtesy of Universal Music Hong Kong]

The first track from Sham's new album, "Bach's Toccata in C minor, BWV 911," is now available on all music streaming platforms.