Wilson Liu, a 12-year-old Heritage Middle School seventh grader, received a proclamation from the Livingston Township Council on Monday, Sept. 28, after winning first prize at an international piano competition.

Liu took first place in the Rising Star Division of the 2026 Cleveland International Piano Competition this summer at the Cleveland Institute of Music's Kulas Hall, Cleveland.com reported. He was the only pianist representing the United States and also earned the Classical and Romantic Special Prizes.

Mayor Shawn Klein presented the proclamation and told Liu the entire township was proud of his accomplishments.

Liu's summer extended beyond Cleveland. He was one of five prize winners in the Junior Division of the 2026 Gina Bachauer International Junior & Young Artists Piano Competition in Salt Lake City. He was the sole representative of the Western Hemisphere among those winners, according to TAPinto Livingston.

Liu began playing piano at age 4. By 7, he had earned admission to the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School on a full scholarship after winning the Bachauer Prize and the school's concerto competition. He studies there with Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone.

His honors extend beyond this summer's wins. At age 9, he appeared on PBS's Great Performances: Now Hear This. At 10, he was the youngest contestant to win both the International Young Artist Concerto Competition in Chicago and the Young Artist Concerto Competition in Vancouver. He also won first prize at the 2024 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition and the 2025 Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition.

This school year, Liu was selected as a 2025-2026 From the Top Fellow, a national fellowship that brought together 94 young musicians for virtual sessions with industry professionals and recorded broadcast appearances.

"I think [music is] a way to break language barriers," Liu told TAPinto Livingston. "In a room with foreign people, I think it's the way to connect everyone together. It's a language with music and no words, so everyone can be a big family."

Klein closed the recognition by looking ahead: "We can't wait to hear about your progress in the future and what awards they're going to make up for you next time."