Hosts Lynn and Larry Amos with 2024 Gold Medalist Yungyung Guo. Photo by Robert Michaelson
During the competition, the eleven contestants stayed with host families in San Antonio and enjoyed South Texas hospitality. Below is a story from Lynn and Larry Amos on their time hosting in 2020 and 2024!
Hosting Winners
Twice, my husband and I had the pleasure of having true winners share our home and our time thanks to San Antonio’s quadrennial and very distinguished Gurwitz International Piano Competition. It attracts more than 70 applicants, so when the twelve chosen young competitors arrive in our city, each is already a winner.
This was clear with both of our guests – Nikita Lukinov in 2020 from Russia, and Yungyung Guo in 2024 from China. Each were 20 years old and dedicated to their craft. They were not only youthful and professional, but entertaining and appreciative of anything we did for them.
Nikita was eliminated from the 2020 competition early on, so our hosting duties included sightseeing and enjoying local restaurants while also taking in the other contestants’ ongoing performances. Yungyung continued performing throughout the 2024 competition winning the Gold Medal. As a result, our duties were focused on providing meals, transportation and whatever encouragement and feedback she required.
Both of our guests kept us busy, busy, busy, and each of them rewarded us with new friendships. We correspond to this day while watching their burgeoning careers, and look forward to meeting again in the future.
— Lynn Amos
Interested in becoming a host family for our upcoming Gurwitz 2028 Competition?
2024 Competition Links
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