Harvard Cellist Claims Judges Biased Following Fifth Place Contest Finish

Despite making the finals of the prestigious Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow last week, a Harvard sophomore claims judges deprived him of the top prize because of his age and nationality.

Bion Yu-ting Tsang, a 19-year old Chinese American student, was the youngest cellist to reach the finals of the 53-contestant international competition, placing fifth overall.

The Eliot House resident says he believes an anti-American bias among the judicial panel, of which the majority hails from the Eastern bloc, and his relative youth cost him a higher finish.

"I thought from the way I played and what I saw of the people finishing above me, I could have placed first," Tsang said. "I got the feeling that they had a quota system for the finals, regarding Americans. I expected the Russians to get the top prizes, they always do."

Cellists from the Soviet Union shared first and second prizes, while the highest American finish was a tie for third place. Only three Americans made it to the 13-person final round, after nine had advanced to the semifinal round.

"I believe the fact that I am 19-years old hurt me," Tsang said. "They figured I would come back in four years when the next Tchaikovsky competition is held." The Poughkeepsie, N.Y. resident added he did not know if he would return.

Tsang, who admitted to being "very nervous" at the outset of the competition, said he was pleased both with his performance and with reaching the finals. But he said he tired at the end of the second of his two final-round recital pieces, Tchaikovsky'sVariations on a Rococo Theme, and that mayhave dropped him in the final standings.

The music major called the contest thehighlight of his cello career to date, adding thatit even surpassed his 1984 recital at CarnegieHall, for which he received rave reviews.

Tsang took the Spring semester off from Harvardto prepare for the invitation-only competition. Hesaid Soviet officials asked him to attend becauseof his reputation and recommendations, whichincluded one from Zubin Mehta, conductor of theNew York Philharmonic.

Among Tsang's musical role models isworld-renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma '76. Ma wasoriginally slated to perform at Harvard's upcoming350th anniversary celebration, but cancelledbecause of a scheduling conflict. Event organizerssaid they would consider Tsang as a possiblereplacement.

Tsang's fifth-place finish is all the moreimpressive because he balances a full-timeacademic load with his musical career, said Musicdepartment chairman Lewis H. Lockwood, FannyPeabody professor of music.

"It's very extraordinary that he accomplishedthis without coming from a conservatory," Lockwoodsaid. "It's a great tribute to him."

NOTICE

The American Red Cross will conduct a blooddrive from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in Memorial Halltoday. All Harvard affiliates are encouraged todonate