Henry Hewitt, piano

Meet Henry

Henry performs on Show 478.

Henry Hewitt (piano), 16, from Mobile, Alabama, is a junior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, where he dorms and studies piano with Dr. Lucy DeSa. He has participated in masterclasses with many renowned pianists such as Vitaly Starikov, Yakov Kasman, Maxim Lando, Michael Gurt, and Alvin Chow.

Henry began studying piano at the age of 6 at Full Scale School of Music. During the 2020 quarantine, he discovered his deep passion for classical music—particularly the works of Franz Liszt—and by 13, he decided to fully devote himself to piano. This newfound dedication sparked a period of rapid artistic growth. Under the guidance of Dr. Robert Holm, Henry won numerous competitions in the Gulf Coast region, including first prizes in the Lois Pickard Concerto Competition, the AFMC Piano Competition, and the Bush Hills Piano Competition, as well as third prize in the Gulf Coast Steinway Society Competition. He is also a two-time winner of the MTNA Alabama State Competition.

In 2024, at the age of 15, Henry made his international debut at the Thomas F. Hulbert International Piano Competition, where he received the Masterclass Award. His other distinctions include first prize in the Berlin International Music Competition, first prize and the Exceptional Performer Award in the Charleston International Music Competition, and a finalist in the 2025 Rubato International Piano Competition. He has performed in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and has attended both the Brevard Music Center’s 2023 Summer Festival and the 2025 Oberlin Piano Festival, where he won fourth prize in the festival competition.

Outside of music, Henry is a devout Catholic whose faith deeply influences him. He loves the Holy Rosary, which is a prominent part of his daily life, and he spends much of his time reading about the Saints and the Church. In his free time, Henry enjoys being with friends and playing video games.