Li Yundi joins Chopin jury

Chinese pianist Li Yundi has been chose a jury member of the 2015 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. Jiang Dong / China Daily

Chinese pianist Li Yundi has been chosen as the jury member of the 2015 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition and becomes the youngest judge in the contest's 88-year history.

The famous pianist Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron will be the chairman of the jury; other members include Martha Argerich and Garrick Ohlsson.

In October 2000, Li won the first prize at the competition and the special prize of the Fryderyk Chopin Society in Warsaw for the best performance of a polonaise, which made him the youngest winner of the competition and the first Chinese pianist to win the title.

"I feel honored to become a jury of this competition which is very special to me," said Li at the Polish embassy in Beijing on Tuesday.

"It's another recognition from the competition committee and from the composer’s home country, if winning the contest in 2000 was the first," he said.

"Chopin is my favorite composer. His music is touching, sensitive and most important is full of love. I'm willing to do my part to promote his music to the world."

"Chopin is Poland's most famous musician," said Tadeusz Chomicki, Polish ambassador in Beijing, "and his music is played widely by pianists from all over the world. Each pianist gives their life experience into the music and makes it live and colorful. Some of the pianists gain international recognition, such as Li Yundi, who helps to promote Chopin to the world."

Li will give four New Year concerts in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu from Dec 13 to Jan 3.