 Between 1996 and 2002, Albert participated in piano competitions, winning First Prizes at the 1996 Unisa Piano Competition in South Africa and the 2000 Web Concert Hall Piano Competition in the U.S.He also won prizes in Calgary (Honens), Helsinki (Maj Lind), Santander (Paloma O'Shea Santander International Competition), and special awards for his performance of Mozart Piano Concerto K595 and the Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2 at the Unisa Competition (see list below).