Li Yundi.[Photo by Jiangdong/asianewsphoto.com]

It was announced on Tuesday at the Embassy of Poland in Beijing that Chinese pianist Li Yundi will be on the jury panel for the International Chopin Piano Competition next year. Li, who became the youngest winner of the competition at age 18 when he won first prize in 2000, has now become the competition's youngest jury member at age 33.

One of the oldest music competitions and most famous piano competitions in the world, the International Chopin Piano Competition has been held every five years since 1927, for pianists aged from 16 to 30.

"It is not that every talented pianist is invited to be on the jury of the piano competition. To be invited as a juror for the competition, which is considered as one the most important music competitions in the world, one needs to be recognized as a great artist," said Poland Ambassador to China Tadeusz Chomicki.

Li said at the conference that the International Chopin Piano Competition was the starting point for his career. "Chopin is one of my favorite composers, not only because of his music talent, but also his spirit of patriotism, which impacted me a lot," said Li.