The Korea International Competition for Young Pianists - August 18th - August 24th 2013

The 1st Korea International Competition for Young Pianists was established by Korea National University of Arts Foundation. The competition is held every other year for the category of piano, with the aim of promoting cultural exchanges among nations through music, and supporting talented young musicians from all over the world. The 2013 competition will take place at the Korean National University of Arts (KNUA) in Seoul.

Chairman of the Jury is Daejin Kim (Korea). The Jury Members are: Douglas Humpherys (U.S.A), Robert Benz (Germany), Eleanor Wong (Hong Kong/China), Dai Uk Lee (Korea), Zhaoyi Dan (China) and Hitoshi Kobayashi (Japan)

Eighth Lee Piano Competition, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Augustana College hosts the Eighth Biennial Lee Piano Competition on Saturday, April 27, in memory of the late J. Earl Lee and Clara Lee, two esteemed Augustana professors. The Lee Piano Competition is a biennial competition for pianists held on the Augustana College campus in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The competition is held in honor of the late J. Earl Lee and his wife, the late Clara Lee. J. Earl Lee was a professor of music at Augustana College from 1931 to 1991, serving as chair of the music department for 20 years. Clara Lee was a professor of speech at Augustana College from 1952 to 1991. J. Earl helped found the Sioux Falls Community Concert Association in 1935. In 1958, Clara Lee was chosen Debate Coach of the Year by a national speech honorary society. The Lee Piano Competition is funded through the generous gifts of Karl O. Lee and his mother, Agnes Lee. Augustana College is grateful for this support and for the lasting recognition given to the legacy of J. Earl Lee and Clara Lee.

Opening the competition will be a recital featuring competition guest artist Dr. Steven Spooner, Concert Pianist and Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Kansas. The recital is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26, in Kresge Recital Hall on the Augustana College campus. Competition preliminaries will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and continue until 5 p.m. The final competition round begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature the top performers from each of three divisions: Division 1 (grades 4-6), Division II (grades 7-9), and Division III (grades 10-12). Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Onutė Grażinytė, Robert Aleksander Maciejowski, Kamila Sacharzewska and Neng Ieong winners of Peter Toperczer International Piano Competition Košice

Onutė Grażinytė from Lithuania (4th Category), Robert Aleksander Maciejowski from Poland (3rd Category), Kamila Sacharzewska from Poland(2nd Category) and Neng Ieong from China (1st Category) are the winners of the 2013 Peter Toperczer International Piano Competition in Košice, Slovakia. 

The objective of the Peter Toperczer International Piano Competition is to support talented children and enable them to present themselves on major concert stages. The endeavour of the promoters is to help the young pianists feel well in Košice and to ensure that the knowledge emerging from the competition is inspirational for their further artistic development. IPC laureates of previous years performs concerts which constitute a traditional part of the competition. This provides the opportunity to see and compare artistic growth of participating young pianists.

The first year of the International Piano Competition Košice was in 1993 and the competition gained quickly a positive response. A promoter of the project is a teacher at Mária Hemerková Elementary School of the Arts in Košice, Mrs Judita Barthová. Up to the fifth year the competition was held annually, then the Organizational Committee opted for a two-year cycle. This is the only competition in Slovakia for children under 15 (since the 13th competition under 17) with international attendance. So far, the Peter Toperczer International Piano Competition has been attended by children from the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Georgia, France, England, Armenia, Ruddia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Iran, South Korea and China. The international judges panel came from Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, USA, Brazil, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.

Profesor Peter Toperczer was born Juli 24th 1944 in Košice. He was a prominenz Slovak pianist and became Dean of the Academy of Music and Rector of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Peter Toperczer died august 16th 2010 in Prague.

Xue Hong Chen wins 10th International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Kiev

Xue Hong Chen from China has won the 10th International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz Junior Group in Kiev. There were 2 second: Maria Klymenko from Ukraine and Tony Siqi Yun from Canada. The other ranks were: third Xing Yu Lu from China, fourth Aleksandr Malofeyev from Russia and fifth Eugen Motorenko from Ukraine. The Intermediate and Senior groups of this competitions will be played in 2014. The winner of the Junior group of the 9th competition was Bolai cao from China. 

Among the cultural and art measures that promote Ukraine's integration with the world community the International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz figures prominently. The Competition founded in 1995 commemorates a memory of the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz. 738 young musicians from 32 countries have taken part in the competition so far. Victory in the Competition is honourable and high recommendation for a performer. It's confirmed by the further success of the Competition's laureates who became winners of the prestigious world musical contests such as Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan) - Alexej Gorlatch; Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan) and Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (Israel) - Olexandr Gavrylyuk; Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (USA) - Olexej Koltakov; ARD International Music Competition (Germany) - Denys Proshchaiev; Maria Callas Grand Prix (Greece) - Vadym Kholodenko, Maria Kim; Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia - Yevgen Ukhanov; Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists (Germany) - Kostiantyn Tovstukha; the International Tchaikovsky Competition (Russia) - Dmytro Onishchenko; Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition (USA) - Cheung Wai Ching Rachel.International piano competition Ettore Pozzoli (Italy) - Alexandr Pirojenko; Competition in Shanghai - Olexij Grynyuk; "George Enescu" International Festival and competition (Rumania) - Eduard Kunz.

The Laureates of 5th Concours International de Piano Junior Brin d'Herbe Orléans 2013

The Laureates of 5th Concours International de Piano Junior Brin d'Herbe Orléans 2013 are:

Diploma of Honor

Level 1

Good distinction: Elena Belhassen, Johan Bitaud, Sophie Jaloux, Prielle Mougiama-Daouda, Jun-Soo Park, Yeon Seo Woo

Very good distinction: Eline Castro, Gabriel Gomez, Meziane Idir, Agathe Poinsard, Liantsoa Rakotondratsima, Léah Rodriguez-Jacquemin

Level 2

Good distinction: Marie Berthommier, Romain Goupillon-Huguet, Kenneth Hui, Edwige Lay, Alexandrine Péan, Benjamin Tourret

Very good distinction: Olivier Bapst, Sarah Chung, Camille Demarre, Ianina Gateau, Félicité Lainé

Excellence Prize

Level 1

1st Prize: Isaac Cebon, unanimous vote

Excellence Prize: David Maratka, unanimous vote

Excellence Prize: Angel Turounet

Excellence Prize: Mélodie Michel & Raphaël Thinat are placed equal

Level 2

1st Excellence Prize: Laure Cholé 

2nd Excellence Prize: Arthur Coelho

Level 3

1st Excellence Prize: Benjamin Driencourt-Mangin & Firmin Martens are placed equal, unanimous vote

Special Distinctions

Special Prize awarded for the best interpretation of the mandatory piece by Bruno Giner

Level 1 "Pantomime": Elise Grimaux

Level 2 "Irae": Jacopo Dazzi

Level 3 "Impacts": Firmin Martens

Special Prize awarded awarded by APEC Association for the interpretation of "Pantomime": Sophie Safarov

Special Prize - tribute to Györgi Kurtàg: Félicité Lainé

Special Prize awarded for the best interpretation of Jonathan Harvey’s work: Martin Pérénom

ACDA Prize awarded to the youngest laureate for an exceptional talent recognized by the jury: Maya Intha-Amnouay

Incentive Prize awarded by ADRIC Association to a Musical Institution: La Musica, Seoul, Korea.

The 14th International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition October 11–18, 2014

The Edvard Grieg Museum is inviting pianists from all over the world to The 14th International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition in 2014. The cCompetition will be arranged from 11-18 October, 2014. The first three rounds of the competition will be held at Troldhaugen, Grieg’s picturesque and well-preserved home set on a hill overlooking Lake Nordås. The final round of 14th International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition will be held at the Grieg Hall, and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the three finalists. 

Troldhaugen Concert Hall

In 2000 Professor Einar Steen-Nøkleberg founded the Piano Competition “Concours Grieg” in Oslo. The competition has been a joint venture between European Piano Teacher’s Association, Oslo Music Teacher’s Association and Oslo Grieg Society, and has been arranged every year since the very beginning. The level of the competitors has been extraordinary high every year, so has the number of participants. From 2000 till 2011 the competition was located at the State Academy of Music in Oslo, and according to the Solo Competition, it was for many years also arranged competitions for 4-hands and for two Pianos. In 2012 the Competition was moved to Edvard Grieg’s home, Troldhaugen in Bergen. With this move, the prizes have increased, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra has entered as the Orchestra for the Final Round, and the whole arrangement has become more substantial. 

Sasha Grynyuk

The Winners of The 13th International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition in 2012 were:

1st Prize: Sasha Grynyuk, Ukraine

2nd Prize: Anton Igubnov, Russia

3rd Prize: Mamikon Nakhapetov, Georgia

Audience Prize: Anton Igubnov, Russia

Prize for best performance of the new piece by Lasse Thoresen: Mamikon Nakhapetov, Georgia

Prize for best performance of solo piano music by Edvard Grieg: Sasha Grynyuk, Ukraine

Roland FP 80 and FP 50 - Next Generation Models

Roland announced at the Franfurt Musikmesse the FP-80 and FP-50, the next-generation models in their FP series of portable digital pianos. This updated instruments feature SuperNATURAL Piano sounds, 88-note Ivory Feel keyboards, a large selection of onboard rhythm accompaniments with advanced full-keyboard chord recognition and more. The FP-80 Ivory Feel-S Keyboard with escapement features the same progressive hammer action and escapement found in Roland top-line pianos, plus keys that replicate the unique appearance, texture, and moisture absorbing properties of real ivory. The cheaper FP-50 is outfitted with the Ivory Feel-G Keyboard with Escapement, an excellent keyboard that also features a progressive hammer action and an authentic ivory feel.

Roland SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine delivers pro-level acoustic pianos with natural response, wide dynamic range, and seamless variations in tone. Also onboard the FP-80 and FP-50 are a large selection of SuperNATURAL-based classic electric pianos, as well as strings, organs, and other versatile sounds. Dual Play and Split Play functions allow users to easily layer two tones together or split two sounds across the keyboard. At the touch of a button, users can add impressive accompaniment as they play the FP-80 and FP-50. 90 newly created rhythms cover jazz, rock, and other musical styles, and feature backing instruments along with drums for a rich ensemble sound. The accompaniment intelligently follows chords played anywhere on the keyboard to create interactive real-time backing. Via USB memory, users can record their performances and play along with their WAV audio songs.

The Roland FP-80 and FP-50 offer full dynamic sound with built-in stereo speaker systems. Additionally, the FP-80 is equipped with Roland Acoustic Projection technology, which adds an additional speaker pair for an even more impressive sound with extra depth and dimension. The FP-80 has a microphone input with a dedicated harmony effect, allowing vocalists to sing along and enjoy vocal harmonies that automatically follow the chords in the rhythm accompaniment or chords played on the keyboard.

The FP-80 and FP-50 are compatible with Roland Wireless Connect, which provides convenient, cable-free communication with Apple iOS devices via Roland?s optional WNA1100-RL Wireless USB Adapter. Two free Roland apps are available to use with the new FP-series pianos: Air Recorder (for the FP-80) allows players to record and share their performances as audio data on their iPhone or iPad and play along with their favorite songs stored on the devices, while Air Performer (for the FP-50) plays iPhone/iPad songs through the piano for play-along fun and practice. Both the Roland FP-80 and FP-50 are available in black or white. Optional matching stands include the KSC-76  for the FP-80 and KSC-44  for the FP-50.

Dennis Linnik, Oleksiy Kanke, and Ulyana Pinaeva Winners of the VII International Competition For Young Pianists in Sergei Prokofiev’s Native Land Donetsk

The Laureates of the VII International competition For Young Pianists

in Sergei Prokofiev’s Native Land Donetsk are :

Winners of the Senior Group:

1st Prize and the title of Laureate:

Linnik Denis (Belarus)

2nd Prize and the title of Laureate:

Sharina Anastasia (Ukraine)

3d Prize and the title of Laureate:

Kolosova Maria (Russia)

Diploma:

Aredo Diana (Ukraine)

Uvarkina Polina (Russia)

Special Prize "For the best performance of Prokofiev's piece":

Sharina Anastasia (Ukraine)

Winners of the Medium Group:

1st Prize and the title of Laureate:

Kanke Oleksiy (Ukraine)

2nd Prize and the title of Laureate:

not awarded

3d Prize and the title of Laureate:

Ivashkevytch Markiyan (Ukraine)

Diploma:

Dudin Alexandr (Russia)

Magaliyash Gabriela Lina (Ukraine)

Special Prize "For the best performance of Prokofiev's piece":

Ivashkevytch Markiyan (Ukraine)

Winners of the Junior Group:

1st Prize and the title of Laureate:

Pinaeva Ulyana (Ukraine)

2nd Prize and the title of Laureate:

Grinkevitch Stanislav (Belarus)

3d Prize and the title of Laureate:

Kovryga Valeria (Ukraine)

Tahtay Ekaterina (Russia)

Tolstov Mikhail (Ukraine)

Diploma:

Gilia Ye-Zi Wu (Canada-China)

Chertorygina Polina (Ukraine)

Special Prize "Hope":

Chertorygina Polina (Ukraine)

Special Prize "For the best performance of Prokofiev's piece":

Pinaeva Ulyana (Ukraine)

The prestige of the Donetsk All-Ukrainian Competition and the experience accumulated by its organizers made it possible to turn the All-Ukrainian Competition into a full-scale international one, which first took place in April 1999. A famous pianist, the president of the Russian Art Academy, the People’s Artist of the USSR professor Nikolai Petrov was an honored president of the jury of the first International Competition. Famous musicians from Europe and leading musicians of Ukraine were also in the jury. After pre-selection, 114 young musicians from 5 countries, who competed in 4 age-groups, were admitted to participate in the contest. The names of the winners of the first competition became widely known in Ukraine. Among them were Valeriya Mirosh, Vadim Kholodenko, Elmar Gasanov, Karina Magakyan, Yekaterina Kulikova. The champions gave performances on festivals in Norway, Cyprus, and France.

The prize-winners of Donetsk competition are often among the winners of prestigious international competitions. In recent years we were glad to hear about new brilliant victories of our “Prokofiev prize-winners” Alexei Koltakov, Sergei Salov, Veleriya Mirosh, Vadim Kholodenko, Yekaterina Kulikova and Elmar Gasanov. They achieved victory in the biggest international competitions in the USA, Canada, Germany, Greece, Russia, Hungary and Japan. Such laureates of the International Competitions on the Motherland of Sergei Prokofiev as A. Chugai, D. Pisarenko, V. Kucherenko, A. Yasinsky, A. Kovalyova and V. Shushkevich became laureates of international competitions “In memory of Vladimir Horowitz”.

Casio Privia and Celviano Digital Pianos

Casio’s series of Privia and Celviano digital pianos were introduced in the Fall of 2012. At the heart of these new instruments is the latest ‘AiR’ sound technology, which is more than three times more powerful than the previous generation. ‘AiR’ allows bigger and longer samples to be used, recreating detailed nuances such as sympathetic resonance (damper and string). 

The Tri-Sensor hammer action features simulated ivory touch keys. Higher models offer unique features such as a physical acoustic lid, plus electronic ‘lid simulator’ for many tonal variations and audio record -USB. The cabinet designs are new being both compact yet very stylish.  Below the ‘50’ series is the CDP-120, a value solution for a weighted action digital piano.

KORG e- Piano SP-280

The Korg SP-280 provides a playing feel that's incredibly close to that of an acoustic piano by switching between four piano samples according to the dynamics of the performance. From delicate pianissimo to dynamic fortissimo, the sound will respond realistically to how you play. In particular, the Grand Piano sound reproduces the damper resonance that is heard when you press the damper pedal of an acoustic piano. the SP-280 contains 30 sounds, including organs, clavs, harpsichord, strings, and more. 

There is a so-called Layer Mode that enables to play two sounds together, and a Partner Mode that divides the keyboard into left and right regions so that two people can play the same range of pitches. Two headphone jacks make it convenient for two people to play the SP-280 together. The Korg SP-280 has three effects: brilliance adjusts the brightness of the tone, reverb simulates the natural ambience (reverberation) of a concert hall, and chorus adds spaciousness. Besides it features two onboard amplifiers that deliver 22w of output power each; the highest in its class.

e-piano Roland RD-64

Launched at NAMM 2013, the Roland RD-64 joins the line of RD stage pianos which began in 1986 with the RD-1000. Aimed at stage and studio players, the RD-64 features Roland’s latest SuperNATURAL Piano technology and a 64-note Ivory Feel-G keyboard for a true weighted-action playing feel. 

Also on board is a selection of SuperNATURAL-based vintage EPs, plus essential clav and organ tones. Controller mode instantly turns the RD-64 into a flexible MIDI master keyboard, with a special one-touch setup that unlocks the SuperNATURAL sound potential in a connected INTEGRA-7 sound module or JUPITER-80 / JUPITER-50 synth. Streamlined and mobile, the RD-64 delivers piano-action performance and impressive versatility for live playing, on-the-go composing, home studios, teaching labs, and beyond.

KURZWEIL e-pianos MP10, MP20 and CUP2

The Kurzweil MP10, MP20 and the flagship KURZWEIL CUP2 upright are all coming with 88 onboard sounds, a fully graded hammer action, wooden keys and 140 watt stereo sound system. A $30m investment at Kurzweil’s R & D facility in Boston has resulted in the next generation Mara sound chip technology and VAST system software which has now been incorporated throughout this new e-piano line- up. 

The Kurzweil brand has been synonymous for many years with groundbreaking synthesiser, stage pianos and Keyboards. The new range of home digital pianos is the first venture into the home e-piano market since Young Chang/Kurzweil was acquired by Hyundai.

The Finalists of the 2013 Indianapolis Piano Competition

The 2013 Indianapolis Piano Competition is scheduled between April 15th and-20th. The cash prize for the winner is $50,000, up from $20,000 in 2009. For the first time, this year’s winner will also have the opportunity to record on the Steinway & Sons classical music label. Open to American pianists 18 to 30 years old, the piano competition was founded in New York City in 1979. The APA relocated to Indianapolis in 1982. It offers jazz and classical competitions on four-year cycles.

Hilbert Circle Theatre

The five finalists this year are Andrew Staupe, Claire Huangci, Eric Zuber, Sean Chen and Sara Daneshpour. On Friday 19th and Saturday 20th they will each play a complete major concerto at Hilbert Circle Theatre with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz: Chopin No. 1 (Sara Daneshpour), Prokofiev No. 3 (Claire Huangci), Bartok No. 2 (Sean Chen), and Rachmaninoff No. 2 (Eric Zuber) and No. 3 (Andrew Staupe). The winner of the 2013 Indianapolis Piano Competition shall be announced shortly afterwards.

The Jaques Samuel Pianos Intercollegiate Piano Competition 2013

The Jaques Samuel Pianos Intercollegiate Piano Competition has taken place annually since 1996. This competition aims to provide students with an opportunity to compete against like minded musicians, to gain experience in piano specific competitions and give outstanding students the opportunity to perform at well known London concert venues. The 2013 Jaques Samuel Pianos Intercollegiate Piano competition wiil take place throughout October and November. The winner will perform a solo recital at Wigmore Hall and at the Fazioli Auditorium in Sacile, Italy. The Wigmore Hall Recital will be recorded and he/she will receive 500 professionally produced CDs. A further four entrants will win a solo lunchtime recital at St James's Piccadilly.

The Jaques Samuel Pianos Intercollegiate Piano competition is open to all students (first year to postgraduate) of the four main London music colleges: Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Martin James Bartlett

Martin James Bartlett was born in Hornchurch, Essex. He began learning the piano at the age of six and bassoon and recorder from the age of eight. By the time he was 12 he had achieved Grade 8 Distinction on all three instruments. A finalist in the piano section of the BBC Young Musician 2012. Martin Bartlett is an accomplished pianist, studying at the Royal College of Music and the Purcell School.

Martin Bartlett has performed in many competitions and festivals, where he has also enjoyed considerable success. For several years running he has been a prizewinner in the Jaques Samuels Intercollegiate Piano Competition, which has resulted in a series of Wigmore Hall solo performance opportunities for him. In October 2012, he was awarded First Prize in The Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra Young Musician Competition. In July 2012, Martin Bartlett was awarded first prize in the Royal College of Music’s Senior Piano Competition, the Teresa Carreno Competition, as a result of which Martin Bartlett gave a solo recital in Bolivar Hall, London earlier this year. He was one of only five pianists chosen nationally to perform in the Keyboard Final of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012, which was held in the Dora Stoutker Hall in Cardiff, the live performance of which was broadcast on BBC4.

European Piano Competition Ouistreham & Caen, France

The 4th edition of the European Piano Competition will take place from the 9th to the 20th of October 2013, in Normandy, in the cities of Ouistreham and Caen. Registrations from the 30th of November 2012 to the 31st of May 2013. The auditions will take place from the 28th of June to the 19th of July.

Winner of the 3rd European Piano Competition Ouistreham in 2011 was Daria Kameneva. Daria Kameneva was born in 1987 in Moscow, Russia and began her piano studies at the age of five. At six she entered First Music School of Reutov. While still a student, she won several youth competitions and was consequently accepted in 2002 to study at Moscow Music College with Natalia Suslova. In 2006, she joined the class of Stanislav Igolinsky at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. Gradually she began to play concerts in Moscow and Russia and today she appears regularly in solo and chamber performances. Daria Kameneva is a laureate of the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation and a scholarship recipient of the 'New Names' Foundation, Cultural Foundation and held a scholarship from the President of Russia.

WORLD PIANO CONFERENCE - WPC in Novi Sad, Serbia, June 27 – July 03 2013

Please find information at: www.wpta.info

The European Piano Teachers Association EPTA

The EPTA European Piano Teachers Association promotes excellence amongst piano teachers and performers. The international organisation was founded in 1978 by Carola Grindea, founder of the European Piano Teachers Association, UK. It became a limited company in 1985.

The European Piano Teachers Association EPTA's aim is to raise standards across the industry. It offers various online services including a directory, information about courses, and further resources

The World Pianist Invitational Competition - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC

One of the World’s Premier International Classical Piano Competitions, the World Pianist Invitational will provide the world with an annual opportunity to come together and celebrate the international communities’ enduring love for classical piano through the promise of our pianist musicians.

The 2013 World Pianist Invitational will be hosted at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Terrace Theatre, in Washington DC, USA, June 15, 2013. Competition finalists will perform at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., offering WPI performers prestige and panache not often found in other competitions. WPI Finalists - or Phenom Laureates as we will call them - will be selected by a panel of five international judges. The WPI Foundation guarantees more than $10,000 in cash scholarships to be shared among the finalists who perform at the Kennedy Center. The WPI Committee will present personalized World Pianist Invitational certificates to all WPI applicant/competitors. Additionally, all Phenom Laureates will receive personalized WPI certificates designating them as a Performance Finalist in the Kennedy Center World Pianist Invitational competition. Kennedy Center World Pianist Invitational Certificates will be coveted “credentials” for those young musicians seeking acceptance to musical schools, university programs or conservatories. Some institutions issue educational credits for participation in international music competitions of the stature of WPI.

Aliaksandr Muzykantau, Guillaume Sigier and Azariah Tan Winners of the WORLD PIANO TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION 2013

Aliaksandr Muzykantau from Belarus and Guillaume Sigier from France are the winners of the 2013 International Piano Competition of the World Piano Teachers Association in the category "Piano Recital". Azariah Tan from Singapore was the winner in the category "Piano Concerto". Martin Bartlett won in the Category "Chamber Music". The winners will perform during the World Piano Conference WPC from June 27th - July 3rd in Novi Sad.

Guillaume Sigier

Guillaume Sigier was born in 1988. He started playing the piano at age 7 in Valenciennes, then he joins Lille’s conservatory, where he studies with Marc Lys and Christophe Simonet. In 2005, he gets into the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (CNSM) of Paris in Henri Barda and Isabelle Dubuis’ promotion. In the meantime, he improves his training with the study of harmony, accompaniment and chamber music, with Cyrille Lehn, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, Yumi Otsu, Claire Désert, Ami Flammer and Yovan Markovitch. All along his career, he gets some advice from such personalities as Susan Manoff, Anne Quéffelec, Daria Hovora, Florent Boffard, Denis Pascal, Hortense Cartier-Bresson, Jean-Claude Pennetier, and also takes part into several master classes with Roy Howatt, Gilbert Amy, Michel Béroff, Emmanuel Strosser, Christian Ivaldi and the members of Trio Wanderer. Guillaume Sigier regularly performs recitals in France and abroad in many festivals (Ouvèze Festival, Jeunes Talents, Valloires Festival, Aix-les-bains Festival, Cordes et Pics de la vallée de Maurienne Festival, Ravéliades...). He also plays at the National Archives, the Bouffes du Nord Theater, in the Singer-Polignac Foundation, in the National Residence of the Invalids in Paris, at the London’s Royal College and soon in the Kyoto International Music Students Festival. As a soloist, he plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 in Lille, then Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Paris conservatory’s wind section.

Aliaksandr Muzykantau is a piano teacher at the Belarusian Academy of Music. 

Azariah Tan

Martin Bartlett

Azariah Tan

Azariah Tan, 21, studies with Professor Logan Skelton at the University of Michigan. The National Arts Council-Conservatory scholar graduated with first-class honours in 2011 under the tutelage of Associate Professor Albert Tiu at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, NUS. Aside from receiving full-tuition scholarships administered through the University of Michigan and the National Arts Coun...cil of Singapore for his current studies, Azariah has earlier on, in 2007, received a scholarship from the Yamaha Music Foundation of Japan. In the same year he was also offered a scholarship and a place to study at the internationally-acclaimed Royal College of Music in London. In 2008, funding at the bequest from the late James Mottram, in conjunction with the Royal Northern College of Music enabled Azariah to participate in a series of masterclasses in Manchester. In 2010, a special grant from the Kagoshima Prefectural government facilitated his participation and performance at the renowned Kirishima Music Festival in Japan. In 2012, a fellowship award through the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation enabled Azariah’s masterclass participation at its biennial International Keyboard Festival based in Kalamazoo, Michigan - a piano music festival internationally recognized as one of America’s most prestigious.

Since winning the 1st prize at 2005 Trinity College of London Music Competition, Azariah has continued to win 1st prizes at the 2009 National Piano and Violin Competition in Singapore and the 2010 Bradshaw and Bruno International Piano Competition in USA; 2nd Prizes at the IX International Competition of Young Pianists in Nis, Yugoslavia (2006),the Asian Youth Music Competition (2007), and the 3rd ASEAN Chopin Competition in Kuala Lumpur (2008). He also received a Bronze and Special Jury Mention awards at the highly competitive 11th International Chopin Piano Competition in ASIA held in Tokyo (2010). Most recently, Azariah scored a triple win in the USA, finishing with 1st prizes for the “2012 American Prize” in both the Solo as well as the Concerto categories.

His performances have been broadcasted over the Yugoslavian National TV, and he has been featured over the Voice of America and on the Singapore Mediacorp TV Channels 5 and 8, FM Stations “Symphony 92.4” and “93.8 Live” as well as, on numerous occasions, in The Straits Times and other local and foreign publications. He has been actively involved in musical performances to raise funds for several charitable causes since 2007.

Azariah’s public performances began in 2006, when he appeared with American bill-board chartist and composer Kevin Kern at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. In 2009, he has made his debut performance in the US at the John F. Kennedy Center, as one of the 4 recipients of the VSArts International Young Soloists Award. He later received a prize-award invitation to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York. In April 2010, he performed at the Teatro del Giglo in Japan with the Poland Silesia Philharmonic Orchestra and in June 2010, he returned to Washington DC to perform at the Shakespere Lansburgh Theatre. In July 2011, just prior to his coming over to the US to begin his graduate studies, he performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for President S.R Nathan and the first lady at the Esplanade Concert Hall, as one of Singapore’s President’s Young Performers.

During his undergraduate study, he was placed on the University Dean’s List in 2007/8, 2008/9 and 2010/11. In 2009, he received the National University of Singapore Students Achievement Award for outstanding achievement in the Arts & Culture arena. Azariah hopes to graduate soon with a double Masters in Music degree both in Piano Performance and in Chamber Music from the University of Michigan. In April 2013 Azariah won the 2013 International Piano Competition of the World Piano Teachers Association in the category "Piano Concerto"

Poom Prommachart Wins 2nd Sussex International Piano Competition in Worthing

Poom Prommachart from Thailand has won the 2nd Sussex International Piano Competition in Worthing. His Prize sponsored by The Bowerman Charitable Trust is £ 5000 + engagements. Rabiga Dyussembayeva From Kazakhstan came in second and gets the £ 2000 Prize sponsored by Manhattan Furniture. Third of the 2013 Competition was Olga Paliy from the Ukraine who also won the Audience prize. The third £1000 Prize was sponsored by Manhattan Furniture.

Poom Prommachart

Poom Prommachart, born in Bangkok, began his concert career at the age of 13. He recently graduated with a Bachelors in Music with Honours from the Royal College of Music (RCM), London. He was a student of Thailand’s leading pedagogue, Peerapong Surawan, and afterwards of both Rena Phua and Boris Kraljević at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. He attained the FTCL Diploma from Trinity College at the age of 15. At age 16, he was granted a full scholarship by H.R.H Princess Galyani Vadhana and the Royal College of Music, which enabled him to continue his studies in London with Professor Ian Jones. He is currently a student of the renowned Russian pianist, Professor Dina Parakhina. 

Poom has performed throughout Europe and Southeast Asia and worked with many leading Orchestras. With an already developed international reputation as an outstanding performer of rare expressive depth, he was acclaimed by critics as “a young Ashkenazy” after his performance of Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto in London. He appeared at the Fifth International Isidor Bajić Piano Competition in Serbia, at which he won 1st Prize, the Laureate Award, a special prize for his Brahms’ F minor Piano Quintet performance in the semi-final round, and the Audience Award. At the final concert, in cooperation with the Timisoara Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Radu Popa, he demonstrated the full richness of his rare musical talent, playing Brahms’ First Piano Concerto, a concerto of deep tragic tones, after which the daily newspaper “Dnevnik” from Novi Sad wrote in their commentary: “Displaying a mixture of controlled freedom and exceptional expressional depth, with rounded phrases and rich decorations of Chopinesque sound, springing from his piano and its great dynamic range, purified in style and expression, the pianist from Thailand has confirmed that the First Prize and title of the Laureate of the entire competition have been placed in the right hands”. 

In addition to an absolute victory in Novi Sad, Poom has won prizes at more than fifteen international and national Competitions: winner of the Hopkinson Gold Medal (RCM, London), 1st prize and Audiences Prize at the UK Intercollegiate Sheepdrove Piano Competition, 1st prize at the Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Soloist Competition, winner of the RCM Concerto Competition for his performance of Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto, 2nd Prize and a Special Prize for the best performance of Liszt at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Budapest, and winner of the John Chisell Schumann Award and the Sarah Mundlak Memorial Prize for Piano.

Poom also performed to great success and acclaim Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Olivier Ochanine, and additionally with the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rauf Abullayev at the Nomus Festiva. In Manila, he conducted a Masterclass at the University Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music at the invitation of the world-renowned Filipino pianist Raul Sunico, and in Thailand at the College of Music, Mahidol University at the invitation of Professor Eri Nakagawa. 

No Winner at the 55th International Piano Competition Prize "Jaèn" 2013

The first Prize of the 55th Jaén International Piano Contest has not been awarded for the seventh time in its history. The last time it was not awarded was in 2003. The Jury, presided by Ana Guijaro and composed by Pilar Bilbao, Rafael Quero, Tamas Vesmas, Yukie Nagai, Matti Raekallio, Marian Rybicki and Pedro Jiménez Cavallé, acting as Secretary, has decided that non of the participants of the final, Marcos Raúl Madrigal (Cuba), Nicolas Namoradze (Georgia) and Evgeny Starodubstev, deserves to win the first prize.

Eventually, the winner of the second prize was the Cuban Marcos Raúl Madrigal, who is getting 9,000 euros and a diploma, while the winner of the third prize, sponsored by Unicaja, the Georgian Nicolas Namoradze, was rewarded with 6,000 euros and another diploma. Right at the end of the final, the Jury announced the winner of the "Contemporary Music" award, the Russian Evgeny Starodubtsev, who gets 6,000 euros for the best interpretation of the mandatory work. The "Rosa Sabater" award, given by the City Hall to the best interpretation of Spanish music, was given to Cristina Lucio-Villegas and the "Audience Award" was given to the Russian Evgeny Starodubtsev. The players made their performance in a crowded Nuevo Teatro Infanta Leonor, where about 800 people gathered to enjoy the concerts. Madrigal, the Cuna player, performed the Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor, Op.22, composed by Saint Saëns; the Piano Concerto in A minus, Op. 54, from Schumann, was the choice from the Georgian Namoradze, and the Russian Evgeny played the Piano Concerto in G mayor, Op. 58, from Beethoven. None of these intrepretations have been good enough at the eyes of the Jury to get the first award. However, the Jury did gave the rest of the awards away.

The “Jaén” International Piano Contest is considered one of the best representatives of the cultural atmosphere of Jaén because of its prestige and its trajectory. Every spring, the Main hall of the Music Conservatory and the new theater Infanta Leonor take the celebration of the contest in. This is one of the oldest competitions in the field of music, which has been won by players of 20 different countries in its 54 editions, confirming its international impact. Pieces of great composers will be played from the 4 to 12 April by young piano players, every single one of them under the age of 32, who must also pass three qualifying rounds. Between this works —all of them with a high interpretation level— stands out the mandatory work, composed exclusively for the contest by very well-known Spanish musicians. In this edition, the composer José Manuel Ruiz created this musical piece, entitled “Almenara”.

Endorsed by awards like the Medal of Honour of the Royal Academy of Arts of Granada or the Manuel de Falla Award, given by the Regional Government of Andalucía, the reputation of this contest is also reflected in the amount of its awards. There are six awards: the first, second and third award, the “Rosa Sabater” award to the best Spanish music interpretation and the “Contemporary Music” award and the "Audience Award". The total amount of the prizes is up to 47.000 euro this year.

George Harliono-Evans is awarded Grand Prix of the International Evangelia Tjiarri Piano Competition in Larnaka, Cyprus

George Harliono-Evans has been awarded the Grand Prix Category A of the International Evangelia Tjiarri Piano Competition in Larnaka, Cyprus. Winner in the category B was Lambis Pavlou.

The International Evangelia Tjiarri Piano Competition is organised by the Evangelia Tjiarri Music Foundation. The basic aims of the Foundation are to organize musical events and to encourage the efforts of young talents for studies in Cyprus and abroad. Evangelia's love for and devotion to music will continue to exist through the activities of the Foundation. The income of the Foundation comes from the annual memberships, donations, sponsorships and the support of the Larnaka Municipality and the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Foundation has today some 80 members and is administered by a Committee of eleven members. The first Chairman of the Committee was Mr. Nicos Tjiarris, Evangelia's father, who held this position until his death in 1999. Today, the Committee composition is the following,

Evangelia Tjiarri was born in Nicosia in 1964. She started piano lessons at the age of 4 at the Greek Music Academy with Nora Karashik. At the age of 9 she continued her piano lessons in the European Conservatoire under Mrs. Litsa Koutalari-Ioannou who inspired her to decide to follow a professional career in music. At 15, she gave her first recital in Larnaka and a year later she gave a recital with Marianna Hadjinicolaou, playing piano works for 4 hands. At 17 she had the opportunity to play as a soloist with an orchestra. In 1983, she got her diploma from the European Conservatoire and also her L.R.S.M. in piano performing.

She was then immediately accepted at the Conservatoire Royale de Musique de Bruxelles, where she studied with Sonjia Anschultzs. She got her diploma, "1er Prix" from the Conservatoire in 1987 with top marks, winning an award for the best graduate of that year. She also got best marks in her diploma in chamber music which she passed in the same year. In 1991 she got the "Diplome Superieur", the highest diploma awarded by the Conservatoire winning an award for the best graduate of that year. She played with great success in recitals in Belgium, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Cyprus. She also participated in a concert together with the renowned pianist Jean-Claude Van den Eyden. She also very successfully took part in chamber music concerts. Apart from her studies and her playing, she taught in several Academies of Music and at the Conservatoire in Brussels.

She was planning, after her wedding towards the end of 1995, to open her own music school in Brussels, when she met with sudden death in a road accident in Italy on 31st July, 1995.

2nd Sussex International Piano Competition 2013

The finalists of the 2nd Sussex International piano competition 2013 have been chosen along with the concertos they'll be playing:

Rabiga Dyussembayeva (Kazakhstan) - Prokofiev 3rd

Poom Prommachart (Thailand) - Rakhmaninov 3rd

Olga Paliy (Ukraine) - Brahms 2nd piano concerto

The Sussex International piano competition 2013 is open to all pianists and allows a free choice of repertoire at most stages. Combined prize money totals at least £12,000 and there are both concerto and recital opportunities for winner and finalists. A British music prize will be awarded for the outstanding performance of a British piano work. The concerto finale takes place on the Sunday afternoon with three finalists and the Worthing Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Gibbons.

The international jury of the 2nd Sussex International piano competition is drawn from across the music industry and includes distinguished composer/pianist John McCabe (President of the British Music Society), Philip Fowke (UK), Yuki Negishi (Japan), Judith Clark (Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra) and the competition’s 2010 inaugural winner Arta Arnicane (Latvia).

Dmitri Levkovich Wins German Piano Award "Deutscher Pianistenpreis 2013"

Dmitri Levkovich has won the prestigious German Piano Award "Deutscher Pianistenpreis 2013" in Frankfurt am Main. 

The "German Piano Award" is an annually presented piano award taking place during the international Frankfurt Music Fair. It focuses on the promotion of outstanding young performing personalities. The "German Piano Award" is an initiative of the "International Piano Forum". Welcome to apply are students in their Master studies and graduates from German and their International Partner Universities of Music or Conservatories. From the elite of young pianists, who perform solo recitals and orchestral concerts worldwide, the six most creative among them are chosen by an independent Jury and invited to Frankfurt am Main. The six nominees present their repertoire to the audience in a public concert at the Alte Oper, Frankfurt am Main.

Dmitri Levkovich

The "German Piano Award" is endowed with € 20,000. All nominees receive a prestigious certificate as well as an invitation to perform at the "Piano Skyline Festival". The other Nominees 2013 were: Gábor Farkas, Universität für Musik Franz Liszt Budapest, Viviana Lasaracina, Royal Academy of Music London, England, Alexey Pudinov, Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany,  Edoardo Turbil, High School of Music in Fiesole, Italy, Thomas Wypior, Hochschule für Musik Detmold, Germany. The winner of the First German Piano Award in 2011 in Frankfurt was Amir Tebenikhin. In March 2012 Lukas Geniusas won the Second German Piano Award.

Dmitri Levkovich

Dmitri Levkovich was born 1980 in Cherkassy into an ukrainian musical family where both of his parents were concert pianists, in addition to his father being a well-known composer. He received his first piano lessons at the age of three and continued his education at the Lysenko music school for gifted children in Kiev, Ukraine. Following the emigration of his family to Israel and then Canada he resumed his professional education at the Curtis Institute of Music in 1996 earning his B.M., M.M. and A.D. degrees at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where for eleven years he studied with renowned pianist Sergei Babayan. Having finished his studies, he makes his home in New York City.

In 2010 Dmitri Levkovich won First Prize at the China International Piano Competition in Xiamen -China's most prominent piano competition. Since entering competition stage in 2005, he has received top prizes in Jose Iturbi, Vendôme Prize, Bosendorfer, Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition, New Orleans, Hilton Head, Viardo and World International Piano Competitions. His consistency and stamina was evident when in the space of six weeks he won four International Piano Competitions, giving fifteen performances, three of them with orchestras. While collecting one of today’s most impressive lists of competition victories, Dmitri has also enjoyed teaching and composing. He has successfully taught piano and chamber music master classes at various universities across the United States, has served as a jury member and his compositions have been performed by orchestras in the United States and in Europe. The focus of his compositions is described in Broad Street Review: “…the musicians could jump right into the heartfelt melodies and big emotional surges of Levkovich’s slow movement.” On numerous occasions Dmitri was confirmed as Audience Favorite by receiving Audience Prizes at the Cleveland and Viardo International Piano Competitions and was recognized as an advocate of Chopin's music by receiving the Chopin Prize at both the Cleveland International Piano Competition and China International Piano Competition. In 2013 Dmitri Levkovich won the prestigous German Piano Award "Deutscher Pianistenpreis" in Frankfurt, Germany

Dmitri’s performances have taken him all over the world. He has appeared at many of the most prestigious concert halls and festivals including the Contemporary Piano Faces at Mariinsky Theater’s Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Carnegie Hall and Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts. He has collaborated with conductors Vladimir Spivakov, Jahja Ling, and George Pehlivanian and has been featured as soloist with numerous orchestras, among them the Cleveland Orchestra, Utah Symphony, China National Orchestra and the Gulbenkian Orchestra of Portugal. Many of his performances have been broadcast on television and radio stations.