Ishan Loomba

United States I Age 17

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ishan Loomba made his solo recital debut at the age of 8 and orchestral debut at age 10. A student of Carol Leone since age 11, he is a pre-college student in SMU’s Gifted Students Institute and attends high school at Early College Academy. Ishan has given public performances in his home state and in Texas, Florida, California, New York, and Colorado, with appearances at the Aspen Music Festival, Texas State International Piano Festival, and Colburn Music Academy Piano Festival, among others. A three-time Chopin Foundation Scholarship recipient, he has been “enraptured” by the piano since his first encounter—so much so that his parents would threaten him with “no more piano until you finish dessert!” Ishan also enjoys singing, learning languages, and running.

“I feel that music is the most important part of my life for reasons that are innate and unquantifiable, but also because music has given me a purpose beyond my own passions. This purpose is grounded in the need to communicate with others and to move them.”

Competitor Profile

Repertoire

Preliminary Round

BACH Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp Minor, BWV 873
SCHUBERT Sonata in A Major, D. 664 (III)
CHOPIN Mazurka in C-sharp Minor, op. 63, no. 3
CHOPIN Etude in G-flat Major, op. 10, no. 5 (“Black Key”)

Quarterfinal Round

BACH Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914

HAYDN Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52 (I)

CHOPIN Prelude in F-sharp Major, op. 28, no. 13

RAVEL Sonatine

Semifinal Round

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3

CHOPIN Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat Major, op. 61

GUBAIDULINA Toccata Troncata

GUBAIDULINA Invention for piano

Final Round

MOZART Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453