Henry Meng

(18) PIANIST

“What do you get when you cross a dogged, incessantly hardworking pianist with a transcendently patient, marvellously assiduous composer of music with a hopeless romantic who daydreams too much? You get me”.

That was the intro for Henry Meng’s application for an AIMES Award in 2023. The former Westlake Boys student was an AIMES Junior Excellence Award winner in 2016 as a 12 year old. As a youngster his talent was outstanding, thrilling North Harbour Club members with his performances at club events.

Henry was born at North Shore Hospital. The Shore is home.

As a pianist Henry’s achievements have been immense. Since winning the AIMES Junior Excellence Award there have been twelve first prizes, eleven second prizes, and three third prizes. These have included – Competition performance of a concerto with the Westlake Chamber Orchestra (2016); Finalist, NZ Youth Piano Competition (2016); Semi-finalist, 2018 Wallace National Junior Piano Competition; Finalist, 2019 Wallace National Piano Competition; Finalist, 2020 New Zealand National Junior Piano Competition; Semi-finalist, 2022 Lewis Eady National Piano Competition; Winner, California Heroes of Music Cup (2022); Winner, Yangtze River Cup (2022); Grand Prize, Youth category, Australasian region, PRIME Society Pacific Rim International Piano Competition (2022); Second, Youth category, PRIME Society Pacific Rim International Piano Competition; Australasian representative for a performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY (2022); Finalist, 2022–2023 National Concerto Competition.

He has also enjoyed success as a composer.

Henry received a Haydn Staples Piano Scholarship in 2022 and was admitted a year early to study at the University of Auckland in the same year.

Also in 2022 he was involved in recording and performing in concert of an orchestral work by the NZ Symphony Orchestra.

For Henry, AIMES Awards funds will contribute towards his university studies and his ongoing music career.