At this time, the total score ranking for the ninth episode was as follows:
Su Yu, with 27 points, ranked first.
Chris, Chu Ming, and Kailina all had 6 points, tying for second place.
Ida Shoichiro had 5 points, ranking fifth.
Piao Zhenshi had 2 points, ranking sixth.
Quanshui had 1 point, ranking seventh.
Han Caizhu, the only one without a score in the ninth episode, had already been replaced.
For the tenth episode, it was unknown what kind of lyricist and composer South Korea would send to take over.
Just as the audience and netizens of the Four Nations Concert were discussing the results, Su Yu and Qin Gang once again set foot on American soil.
This time, they were not going to Los Angeles, but New York.
After all, the Juilliard School of Music is located there.
At the same time Su Yu appeared in America, his real-time itinerary and news were circulating on the internet in various countries.
It was clear that the organizers were extremely serious about Su Yu's participation in the Philharmonic Piano Festival this time.
They even wanted to use Su Yu's current influence to heavily promote their piano festival.
After all, this was just a grand event for pianists; the outside world paid very little attention to them, or even didn't know about it.
However, with a celebrity like Su Yu participating, the topic's popularity would be completely different.
For this, their piano festival would even be broadcast live for its entirety!
This was to allow more piano enthusiasts to hear beautiful piano music.
Of course, there was also an intention to gain favor from more investors.
The organizers hadn't expected that after they announced Su Yu's participation in this piano festival, some investors would approach them on the same day, hoping to sponsor their piano festival.
It was only then that they truly realized how strong Su Yu's influence and popularity were!
...
The person who came to pick them up this time was Daniel, the American pianist who had invited Su Yu last time.
His smile, in Su Yu's eyes, seemed even more sincere and friendly, as if he were looking at some rare treasure.
However, Su Yu didn't think too much about it; after all, it was difficult to become true friends with such a pianist, as it was all just business-related socializing.
But Daniel didn't think that way!
"Su Yu, my friend, my alma mater, the Juilliard School of Music, and I welcome your arrival!"
Daniel enthusiastically stepped forward and gave Su Yu a big hug.
Su Yu noticed flashlights flickering around them! Goodness, were these media and reporters who came with Daniel?
"My friend, our Dean Julie has prepared a lavish dinner, just waiting for a distinguished guest like you who has come from afar. Let's go now."
Daniel said with a smile after releasing Su Yu.
Su Yu's itinerary had already been meticulously arranged by them.
And meeting Su Yu, this young musician, was a request made by their dean.
The organizers had already contacted Su Yu beforehand, and only made these arrangements after Su Yu agreed.
Artists, after all, often have very peculiar temperaments.
They didn't want to upset Su Yu for something that wasn't absolutely necessary.
If Su Yu felt he hadn't received due respect and left in a fit of anger, that would be a huge problem.
Naturally, there were no media or reporters at the dinner, but it was only proper for everyone to take a commemorative photo on the Juilliard School of Music campus after the dinner.
It was Dean Julie's suggestion that Su Yu become an honorary professor of the Juilliard School of Music that surprised Su Yu.
However, despite his surprise, Su Yu, citing the reason that he was still an ungraduated student and lacked the qualification and ability to teach others, very "uncooperatively" declined the elder's invitation.
The accompanying pianists felt a wave of helplessness regarding this.
Especially when Su Yu said that he was still an ungraduated student, the expressions on their faces were truly something to behold.
But Su Yu was speaking the truth; when school started in September, he would only be a senior!
Damn senior year!
...
The time came to 9 AM on the 29th, and this Philharmonic Piano Festival officially began.
Pianists from all over the world took turns performing their works according to the order of registration.
Some were new compositions, while others were interpretations of piano techniques.
Su Yu even heard his own works played more than once among the pieces performed by these individuals.
And the most frequently played piece was none other than "a minor bagatelle," which had only recently appeared.
Especially the performance by the female pianist named Mata, which made Su Yu's eyes light up.
Su Yu felt that Mata's piano playing skill was infinitely close to that of a master!
Among all the pianists who had performed so far, her skill was the highest.
Su Yu also heard Daniel's new work, which was a classical piano piece in canon form.
Overall, Daniel's canon was very good; it's just that some listeners without the ability to appreciate it probably wouldn't understand what he was trying to express.
"Mr. Su Yu, won't you come up and try? I just played Mr. Daniel's canon piece. What do you think of it? Oh, it seems you haven't composed this type of piece before, so never mind my question."
On stage, a pianist named Polini, after finishing his performance of the piece, looked provocatively at Su Yu in the audience.
His words caused an uproar among the pianists, piano enthusiasts, and media and reporters present.
They had never expected that someone would so directly challenge Su Yu at this piano festival.
And to provoke him with such a seemingly brainless reason.
Su Yu just hadn't written a piece in canon form; that didn't mean he couldn't write one or wouldn't write one!
Weren't you afraid that Su Yu would produce a canon piece in a few days to slap you in the face?
Moreover, the piece you played wasn't even written by you! Did you ask Daniel's opinion? And you provoke like this!
At this moment, Daniel's expression had turned extremely grim. The organizers had repeatedly warned them not to cause trouble at the piano festival.
And even more, not to do anything that would make the outside world feel that their piano circle was exclusive, just because Su Yu was Chinese and a newcomer to the piano world!
But, someone still did it.
This Polini was clearly a representative figure who looked down on Su Yu. After all, in their view, Su Yu had only coincidentally written a few piano pieces due to luck.
Moreover, Su Yu's pieces were very casual and did not have a unified style.
There was modern popular piano, and also classical piano.
This made many people in the piano world very unhappy.
So, Polini, as the first one to step forward, launched the attack.
"Coincidentally, I did write a canon piece before. Since this gentleman has so sincerely invited me, then I won't be polite and will offer my humble performance!"
Su Yu wouldn't indulge the other party; as he spoke, he had already walked onto the stage under the gaze of the crowd.
He even made a gesture for Polini to leave when he reached him.
In an instant, everyone felt the tension rising!