Aiden Shim is an 11-year-old pianist and 6th grader who impresses audiences with his remarkable musical talent. He began playing piano at the age of six in 2019, and despite a brief pause during the pandemic, his love for music never wavered. Since 2022, he has been guided by the esteemed Steinway Artist, Ms. Sujeeva Hapugalle.
Aiden’s musical journey has already taken him to the renowned Carnegie Hall stage twice. He first performed there in November 2023 after winning the American Fine Arts Festival Competition, and he returned in June 2024 as a winner of the American Protégé Competition. Aiden hopes to perform at Carnegie Hall every year and share his musical gift with people all over the world.
Aiden’s dedication to his craft has earned him many awards. He has won first prizes at several GCC competition series in 2023 and 2024, the US Open International Competition 2023, the AFAF Golden Era of Romantic Music 2023, and the US New Star Music 2024. He also achieved second place at the US New Star Etude Competition 2023 and received an Honorable Mention in the Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition 2024.
Aiden’s talents extend beyond music. He is also a dedicated Taekwondo athlete with gold medals from the 2022 US National Championship and the 2024 US Final Championship, demonstrating his diverse abilities and commitment to excellence.
Watch Aiden Shim perform Sonata No. 13 Pathetique 1st Movt by Ludwig Van Beethoven for the 2025 International Piano Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.