Malvyn Lai
Malvyn Lai is a high school junior from San Diego, California. He started piano at age 5 and
currently studies with Prof. Ning An. At age 10, he made his orchestral debut with the
Kostroma Symphony Orchestra in Russia. He has since performed with the Danube Sym-
phony in Budapest, Hungary, Toruń Symphony Orchestra in Poland, Culver City Symphony
in California, Grossmont College Symphony in San Diego, and Concert Festival Orchestra in
Long Island, NY. He also received the honor of performing with the Temecula Valley Sym-
phony three times from 2015-2017 as the winner of the Young Artist Competition. Malvyn
has won many awards and scholarships. His recent competition accomplishments include
the winner of: 2021 National YoungArts Foundation Finalist and a Silver medal in Classical
Music, 2021 Conrad Bruderer Award (First Prize with a $15000 scholarship, age 16-32)
given by the San Diego Musical Merit Foundation with a full scholarship to the Aspen Music
Festival in 2023, Silver Prize of the 5th La Palma d’oro Piano Competition in Italy (age
16-36), 2021 Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition Discretionary Award, First
Place in the 2021 Grossmont Music Scholarship Council Competition, The Dr. Milton H.
Saier, Sr. Memorial Award, and the First Place in the 2020 La Jolla Symphony Young Artist
Competition, 2020-2022 Chopin Foundation of United States Scholarship, First Place in the
2021 Southern California Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, First Place in the 2020
Walgreens National Concerto Competition in piano, First Place in the OC International
Steinway & Sons Competition, First Place in the 2019 Parness Young Artist Competition,
First Place in the Southern California Regional CAPMT Concerto Competition, First Place in
the Helen B. Goodlin Scholarship Competition, and many other scholarships and competi-
tions.
Besides music, he enjoys playing tennis, swimming, reading, science, and math. He was a
member of the San Diego math competition team for the American Regions Mathematics
League and a three time AIME qualifier before the pandemic. Malvyn won first place in the
Greater San Diego Science Fair in 2019 and 2020 and received honorable mention in the
California State Science Fair. During COVID, Malvyn continues his performances virtually at
senior retirement centers and takes part in the OCMD music school – Out of the Box virtual
concert series. He is looking forward to two invited stage performances in the Heart of a
Child Benefit Concert in April and with the La Jolly Symphony Orchestra in 2023.