Four of Canada’s most promising young pianists received awards at the 2026 Bader & Overton Canadian Piano Competition, held May 6-9 at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Created by Queen’s University to foster Canada's top talent and support young musicians who aspire to a career in the performing arts, the competition included inspiring performances from six semi-finalists selected from applicants across the nation: Lauren Esch, Eric Guo, Linda Ruan, Charissa Vandikas, Kevin Wang, and Naomi Wong.

“These remarkable young pianists demonstrated extraordinary artistry, imagination, and individuality throughout the competition,” said Gordon E. Smith, Director of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. “It has been a privilege to welcome them to Kingston and Queen’s and to celebrate the depth of musical talent emerging across Canada.”

More than $38,000 was awarded across seven prizes, with First, Second, and Third Prizes awarded to Eric Guo, Kevin Wang, and Naomi Wong, respectively.

This competition was made possible with support from Bader Philanthropies, a key partner in championing the arts at Queen’s. It is the fourth competition in the Bader and Overton series which began in 2017, and has included violin, cello, and piano performances. The inaugural competition was funded by Isabel Overton Bader in memory of her late sister Marion, and out of her strong commitment to supporting the next generation of musicians.

The top prize, formally known as the Isabel Overton Bader, Clifford Overton, and Francoise Landry Prize, awards $20,000, and offers a future concerto performance with the Kingston Symphony, as well as a recital at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. The recital will be recorded by CBC Music for national broadcast.  

Inspired by the Isabel’s 2025-26 season theme “Extending the Rafters,” which draws on the Haudenosaunee tradition of building good relations, the competition emphasized celebrating Indigeneity and diversity. Competitors performed a diverse repertoire, including a newly commissioned work by the late acclaimed Indigenous composer Cris Derksen, which was performed during the semi-finals and celebrated with the Woodland Wealth Prize, received by Eric Guo.

New to this year were two prizes celebrating the contributions of Women and BIPOC, including the Irène Bujara Prize for the Most Outstanding Performance of a Work by a Woman Composer, awarded to Naomi Wong, and the Director’s Prize for Most Outstanding Performance of a Work by a BIPOC Composer, received by Linda Ruan.

Learn more about the competition and six semi-finalists at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts’ website.