Sydney International Piano Competition
Encyclopedia
The Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia is a music competition, presented by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
in association with the University of Sydney
and broadcast live throughout Australia. It is held every four years, over a three-week period in July-August, and is internationally recognised as one of the world's great piano competitions. It was established in July 1977 by Claire Dan, and
admitted as a member of the Federation of International Music Competitions in 1978. The Artistic Director and Chairman of Jurors since its inception has been Warren Thomson
.
Traditionally, the previous winner presents a Gala Opening Recital.
The competition proper consists of five stages. All 36 competitors appear in the first two stages, which each involve a 20-minute solo recital. After this the best 20 are chosen to proceed to the third stage, a 40-minute recital. Twelve pianists are selected to proceed to the fourth stage, a 50-minute recital and participation in a chamber work. Six competitors are selected for the final stage, in which they play two piano concertos with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
.
The first four stages take place at the Seymour Centre
, University of Sydney
, and the fifth stage is held at Sydney Opera House
. The winner receives a prize of $
25,000, with smaller prizes awarded for other placings. In the competition's thirty-year history, no Australian pianist has won first prize. All stages are broadcast live on radio throughout Australia and to the world online, by ABC Classic FM
.
said: "The title Sydney International Piano Competition sounds grand and definitive. But behind the facade is a rather shabby private party in progress". The Liszt specialist and composer Leslie Howard
said: "I was asked to be on the international advisory panel for this years ago ... and since then have never heard from any of them. ... No-one, of course, will ever hear from any of the prize-winners. They all seem to have had rather too close connections with members of the jury, which in any case is composed mostly of lacklustre teachers ... who have never been professional concert pianists in their lives and wouldn't recognise good and original artistry if it jumped up and bit them". Michael Kieran Harvey
has asked: "What does the complete lack of success past SIPCA winners have had at making a career say about the cloth-eared selectors who travel around the world at great expense auditioning young hopefuls? Why, if SIPCA is such an internationally significant competition, are second-rate teachers no-one's ever heard of, to say nothing of completely unqualified non-musicians, sitting in judgment at this supposedly premier music event?" Despite his criticism, Harvey agreed to become the commentator for the ABC's radio broadcast of the 2000 competition, "in an attempt to provide some objective analysis".
Critics have also pointed to the dominance of Warren Thomson
, who single-handedly chooses the repertoire and all the jurors, many of whom are associated with the Australian Institute of Music
(AIM), of which he is Artistic Director, Professional Development Programs. With assistance from others, he also auditions all the entrants, and chooses the 36 competitors. Alexei Yemtsov, a competitor at the 2000 competition, lived in Thomson's home and Thomson became his official guardian. That year, the minimum age was lowered from 18 to 17, although Thomson denied it had anything to do with Yemtsov's being only 17 at the time. The pianist Simon Tedeschi
has said he "has no intention of ever collaborating with Thomson and SIPCA ... The school of pianism with which he associates himself is not to my taste ... The trained-seal mentality makes for poor musicianship, and, ultimately, unhappy lives". Margaret Hair, AIM's former head of keyboard studies, said: "There's a feeling among teachers that with Warren [Thomson] in charge, Australian students have little chance of making the final cut. The most tragic outcome of his effect on the piano scene in this country is a sense of hopelessness that most students now feel".
Critics have also pointed to the fact that in some cases competitors are the students of members of the jury. For example, Mikhail Yanovitsky and Dmitry Grigortsevich, finalists in the 1996 competition, were students of Mikhail Voskressenky and Lev Vlassenko respectively, both of whom were jurors. On the other hand, musicians such as Sir Georg Solti
, Hephzibah Menuhin
, Vladimir Ashkenazy
and Sir Charles Mackerras
have been involved with the competition as either patrons or jurors.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in association with the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and broadcast live throughout Australia. It is held every four years, over a three-week period in July-August, and is internationally recognised as one of the world's great piano competitions. It was established in July 1977 by Claire Dan, and
admitted as a member of the Federation of International Music Competitions in 1978. The Artistic Director and Chairman of Jurors since its inception has been Warren Thomson
Warren Thomson
Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,...
.
Structure
A total of 36 pianists are selected to participate in the competition. Worldwide auditions are held to select the 36 entrants, who must be aged between 17 and 30.Traditionally, the previous winner presents a Gala Opening Recital.
The competition proper consists of five stages. All 36 competitors appear in the first two stages, which each involve a 20-minute solo recital. After this the best 20 are chosen to proceed to the third stage, a 40-minute recital. Twelve pianists are selected to proceed to the fourth stage, a 50-minute recital and participation in a chamber work. Six competitors are selected for the final stage, in which they play two piano concertos with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
.
The first four stages take place at the Seymour Centre
The Seymour Centre
The Seymour Centre is a multi-purpose performing arts centre within the University of Sydney, NSW in the Australian city of Sydney. It is located on the corner of City Rd and Cleveland St in Chippendale, an inner-circle suburb, just south-west of the city centre.The building was designed by...
, University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, and the fifth stage is held at Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. The winner receives a prize of $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
25,000, with smaller prizes awarded for other placings. In the competition's thirty-year history, no Australian pianist has won first prize. All stages are broadcast live on radio throughout Australia and to the world online, by ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name...
.
Criticisms
Despite its generally recognised prestige, the competition has been strongly criticised by some established Australian pianists. The pianist and composer Larry SitskyLarry Sitsky
Lazar Sitsky AM, usually referred to as Larry Sitsky, born 10 September 1934, is an Australian composer, pianist, and music educator and scholar...
said: "The title Sydney International Piano Competition sounds grand and definitive. But behind the facade is a rather shabby private party in progress". The Liszt specialist and composer Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard (musician)
Leslie Howard AM is an Australian pianist and composer. He is best known for being the only pianist to have recorded the complete solo piano works of Franz Liszt, a project which included more than 300 premiere recordings...
said: "I was asked to be on the international advisory panel for this years ago ... and since then have never heard from any of them. ... No-one, of course, will ever hear from any of the prize-winners. They all seem to have had rather too close connections with members of the jury, which in any case is composed mostly of lacklustre teachers ... who have never been professional concert pianists in their lives and wouldn't recognise good and original artistry if it jumped up and bit them". Michael Kieran Harvey
Michael Kieran Harvey
Michael Kieran Harvey is an Australian pianist whose career has been notable for its diversity and wide repertoire. He is renowned for commissioning and performing new music. He has especially promoted the works of Australian composers, such as Carl Vine, all of whose piano music he has recorded...
has asked: "What does the complete lack of success past SIPCA winners have had at making a career say about the cloth-eared selectors who travel around the world at great expense auditioning young hopefuls? Why, if SIPCA is such an internationally significant competition, are second-rate teachers no-one's ever heard of, to say nothing of completely unqualified non-musicians, sitting in judgment at this supposedly premier music event?" Despite his criticism, Harvey agreed to become the commentator for the ABC's radio broadcast of the 2000 competition, "in an attempt to provide some objective analysis".
Critics have also pointed to the dominance of Warren Thomson
Warren Thomson
Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,...
, who single-handedly chooses the repertoire and all the jurors, many of whom are associated with the Australian Institute of Music
Australian Institute of Music
The Australian Institute of Music is a private not-for-profit institution originally founded in 1968 by Dr Peter Calvo, and then known as the Sydney Guitar School...
(AIM), of which he is Artistic Director, Professional Development Programs. With assistance from others, he also auditions all the entrants, and chooses the 36 competitors. Alexei Yemtsov, a competitor at the 2000 competition, lived in Thomson's home and Thomson became his official guardian. That year, the minimum age was lowered from 18 to 17, although Thomson denied it had anything to do with Yemtsov's being only 17 at the time. The pianist Simon Tedeschi
Simon Tedeschi
Simon Tedeschi is a Boston-based classical pianist from Australia.-Life and career:Simon Tedeschi was born in Sydney to Mark Tedeschi QC, the New South Wales Crown Prosecutor and a prominent photographer and Vivienne Tedeschi, who is the daughter of a Polish Holocaust survivor, Lucy Gershwin,...
has said he "has no intention of ever collaborating with Thomson and SIPCA ... The school of pianism with which he associates himself is not to my taste ... The trained-seal mentality makes for poor musicianship, and, ultimately, unhappy lives". Margaret Hair, AIM's former head of keyboard studies, said: "There's a feeling among teachers that with Warren [Thomson] in charge, Australian students have little chance of making the final cut. The most tragic outcome of his effect on the piano scene in this country is a sense of hopelessness that most students now feel".
Critics have also pointed to the fact that in some cases competitors are the students of members of the jury. For example, Mikhail Yanovitsky and Dmitry Grigortsevich, finalists in the 1996 competition, were students of Mikhail Voskressenky and Lev Vlassenko respectively, both of whom were jurors. On the other hand, musicians such as Sir Georg Solti
Georg Solti
Sir Georg Solti, KBE, was a Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor. He was a major classical recording artist, holding the record for having received the most Grammy Awards, having personally won 31 as a conductor, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to his...
, Hephzibah Menuhin
Hephzibah Menuhin
Hephzibah Menuhin was an American-Australian pianist and human rights campaigner. She was sister to the violinist Lord Menuhin and to the pianist, painter, and poet Yaltah Menuhin...
, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy is a Russian-Icelandic conductor and pianist. Since 1972 he has been a citizen of Iceland, his wife Þórunn's country of birth. Since 1978, because of his many obligations in Europe, he and his family have resided in Meggen, near Lucerne in Switzerland...
and Sir Charles Mackerras
Charles Mackerras
Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
have been involved with the competition as either patrons or jurors.
Prize winners and jurors
| Year | Prize Winners | Country | Jurors (incomplete) | Music Patron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Irina Plotnikova Irina Plotnikova Irina Plotnikova is a Russian pianist.Irina Plotnikova won the inaugural Sydney International Piano Competition , and presented the Opening Recital at the 1985 and 2000 competitions.She is now a professor at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory.-References:... |
 Soviet Union |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Rex Hobcroft Hephzibah Menuhin Hephzibah Menuhin Hephzibah Menuhin was an American-Australian pianist and human rights campaigner. She was sister to the violinist Lord Menuhin and to the pianist, painter, and poet Yaltah Menuhin... |
Roger Woodward Roger Woodward Roger Woodward AC OBE is an Australian classical concert pianist.-Biography:Roger Woodward was born in 1942 in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney, the youngest of four children to Gladys and Frank Woodward... |
| Svetlana Navasardyan Svetlana Navasardyan Svetlana Navasardyan is an Armenian pianist.A disciple of Yakov Zak, she first stood out at the East German musical scene, being awarded prizes at Zwickau's Robert Schumann and Leipzig's Johann Sebastian Bach Competition... |
Soviet Union |
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| André Laplante André Laplante André Laplante, is a Canadian pianist.Laplante was awarded 3rd prizes at the inaugural edition of the Sydney Competition and the XV Long-Thibaud Competition, and, most notably, shared a 2nd prize with Pascal Devoyon at the 1978 International Tchaikovsky Competition... |
 Canada |
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| Marioara Trifan |  United States |
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| Philip Fowke Philip Fowke -Biography:Philip Francis Fowke studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Gordon Green, a pupil of Egon Petri. In 1974 he made his London debut with a recital at the Wigmore Hall . That year he won joint second place at the BBC Piano Competition... |
 Kingdom of England |
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| Manana Doidjashvili Manana Doidjashvili Manana Doidjashvili is a Georgian pianist.She was trained at the Tbilisi State Conservatory under Tengiz Amiredjibi. She was prized at the 1970 Enescu and 1974 Smetana competitions, and ranked 6th at the inaugural edition of the Sydney Competition.Doidjashvili is the rector of the Tbilisi State... |
Soviet Union |
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| Daniel Blumenthal Daniel Blumenthal (pianist) Daniel Blumenthal is a German-born American pianist.Daniel Blumenthal was born in Landstuhl, Germany in September, 1952. His first music studies at age 5 in Paris. Later on he enrolled at American University in Washington, D.C., then continued studies at the University of Michigan, where he... |
United States |
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| Dennis Lee |  Malaysia |
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| Diana Kacso |  Brazil |
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| Gary Steigerwalt | United States |
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| Jenő Jandó Jeno Jandó Jenő Jandó is a Hungarian pianist and Professor of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary.He studied piano at the Liszt Academy with Katalin Nemes and Pál Kadosa, later going on to win many major international piano competitions, including the Georges Cziffra and Ciani Piano... |
 Hungary |
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| Paweł Chęciński |  Poland |
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| Piers Lane Piers Lane Piers Lane is an Australian classical pianist. His performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works.- Early life :... |
 Australia |
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| 1981 | Chia Chou Chia Chou Chia Chou is a Taiwanese pianist, and a naturalised Canadian citizen. He settled in Germany in the 1980s.In 1980-81 he won the Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin and the second edition of the Sydney Competition; a wide international concert career ensued... |
Canada |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Rex Hobcroft Claude Frank Claude Frank Claude Frank is a German-born, American Jewish pianist whose career has included appearances with highly reputed orchestras, at major festivals, and in major recital halls around the world... Eileen Joyce Eileen Joyce Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years.... Cécile Ousset Cécile Ousset Cécile Ousset is a French pianist.Cécile Ousset was born in Tarbes, France, and gave her first recital at the age of five, subsequently studying at the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 10 with Marcel Ciampi where, aged only fourteen, she was awarded first prize in the piano graduation class of... Abbey Simon Abbey Simon -Education:Simon began lessons with David Saperton at the age of five. At the age of eight, Simon was accepted by Józef Hofmann as a scholarship student at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he trained with fellow classmates Jorge Bolet and Sidney Foster. Simon also took lessons... Roger Woodward Roger Woodward Roger Woodward AC OBE is an Australian classical concert pianist.-Biography:Roger Woodward was born in 1942 in Chatswood, a suburb of Sydney, the youngest of four children to Gladys and Frank Woodward... |
Sir Bernard Heinze Bernard Heinze Sir Bernard Thomas Heinze, AC was an Australian Professor of Music, conductor, and Director of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music.... |
| Endre Hegedűs Endre Hegedus Endre Hegedűs is an internationally-known piano soloist. He graduated from Franz Liszt Academy of Music University as a pianist, both performing artist and teacher in 1980... |
Hungary |
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| Catherine Vickers Catherine Vickers Catherine Vickers is a Canadian pianist, born in Regina.She won the 1979 Concorso Busoni and was awarded the 1981 Sydney Competition's 3rd prize... |
Canada |
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| Daniel Blumenthal Daniel Blumenthal (pianist) Daniel Blumenthal is a German-born American pianist.Daniel Blumenthal was born in Landstuhl, Germany in September, 1952. His first music studies at age 5 in Paris. Later on he enrolled at American University in Washington, D.C., then continued studies at the University of Michigan, where he... |
United States |
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| David Owen Norris David Owen Norris -Life:Norris was born in 1953. He studied music at Keble College, Oxford where he was organ scholar; he is now an Honorary Fellow of the college. After leaving Oxford, he studied composition, and worked at the Royal Opera House as a repetiteur... |
Kingdom of England |
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| Liora Ziv-Li |  Israel |
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| Marc Raubenheimer Marc Raubenheimer Marc Raubenheimer was a South African pianist. A disciple of Friedrich Gulda in Munich, he graduated in London, debuting at the Wigmore Hall in 1978. For the next years he settled in London's musical life while he made headway to the American scene, debuting in the Carnegie Hall... |
 South Africa |
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| Patrick O'Byrne Patrick O'Byrne Patrick O'Byrne is a New Zealander pianist of Irish descent.-Life:Born in Dublin, raised in New Zealand. Pianistic studies at Auckland University with Janetta McStay, then in Europe as a Scholar of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand and the DAAD. Teachers included Kendall Taylor... |
 New Zealand |
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| Martin Roscoe Martin Roscoe Martin Roscoe is an English classical pianist. He teaches piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the Department of Keyboard Studies. He performs as a concerto soloist, as a recitalist and as a chamber musician.... |
Kingdom of England |
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| Alec Chien Alec Chien Alec Chien is an award-winning pianist from Hong Kong.Born in Hong Kong, Chien earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at The Juilliard School. He was prized at the II Sydney and the VIII 1982 Santander's Paloma O'Shea . He won Gold Medal at the 1986 Gina Bachauer Competition, which led to... |
 Hong Kong |
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| Edward Newman | United States |
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| Yves Rault Yves Rault Yves Rault was a French pianist. He started to play the piano at age of six. From 1968 he lived in Saint-Jean-de-Luz where he studied with Ada Labeque until he entered the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris: he completed his musical studies at the age of 17 winning a 1st Piano... |
 Early Modern France |
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| 1985 | Du Ning-Wu |  Mainland China |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Eileen Joyce Eileen Joyce Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years.... (Deputy Chairman) Rex Hobcroft |
Eileen Joyce Eileen Joyce Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years.... |
| Bernd Glemser Bernd Glemser Bernd Glemser is a German pianist. A student of Vitaly Margulis, in 1989 he became Germany's youngest piano professor at Saarbrücken's Musikochschule.... |
 W. Germany |
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| Thomas Duis Thomas Duis Thomas Duis is a German pianist.Duis studied with Kurt Gerecke in Wiesbaden, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling in Hannover and Fanny Waterman in Leeds.... |
W. Germany |
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| Eduardus Halim Eduardus Halim Eduardus Halim is an Indonesian-American pianist.Born in Bandung, Indonesia of Chinese parents, Halim made his public debut at the age of 11 playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. A student of Sascha Gorodnitzki and Rudolf Firkušný at the Juilliard School where he attended on full scholarship,... |
 Indonesia |
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| Arnan Weisel | Israel |
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| Ueli Wiget Ueli Wiget Ueli Wiget is a Swiss pianist, harpsichordist and harpist.He was prized at the 1985 Sydney Competition. Since 1986 Wiget is a member of the Ensemble Modern, a chair he combines with an international concert career.-References:... |
 Switzerland |
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| Istvan Gulyas | Hungary |
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| Rita Kinka Rita Kinka Rita Kinka is a Serbian pianist of Hungarian descent.She graduated at the University of Novi Sad's Academy of Arts under Arbo Valdma, and finished her studies at the Juilliard School under György Sándor after she was granted the Gina Bachauer scholarship.Kinka started a concert and recording... |
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
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| David Selig | Australia |
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| Michael Gurt | United States |
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| Luigi Ceci |  Italy |
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| Phillip Shovk | Australia |
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| 1988 | Alexander Korsantia Alexander Korsantia Alexander Korsantia is a Georgian International award winning pianist. Alexander immigrated to Canada in 1992, settling in Vancouver, British Columbia. After living in Vancouver for a number of years, he currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts... |
Soviet Union |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Rex Hobcroft |
Eileen Joyce Eileen Joyce Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years.... |
| Riccardo Zadra Riccardo Zadra Riccardo Zadra is an Italian pianist.Zadra was awarded the 1988 Sydney Competition's 2nd prize. He has performed and recorded internationally since. He is the founder of the Accademia pianistica internazionale de Padova, presided by Aldo Ciccolini, and teaches at the Vicenza... |
Italy |
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| Eduardus Halim Eduardus Halim Eduardus Halim is an Indonesian-American pianist.Born in Bandung, Indonesia of Chinese parents, Halim made his public debut at the age of 11 playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. A student of Sascha Gorodnitzki and Rudolf Firkušný at the Juilliard School where he attended on full scholarship,... |
Indonesia |
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| David Buechner | United States |
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| Sergei Erohin | Soviet Union |
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| Phillip Shovk | Australia |
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| Gilead Mishory | Israel |
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| Anton Batagov Anton Batagov Anton Batagov is a Russian pianist and post-minimalist composer.A graduate of the Gnessin School and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and prize-winner at the International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Sydney International Piano Competition , among other competitions, Batagov was the first... |
Soviet Union |
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| Matthias Fletzberger |  Austria |
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| Victor Sangiorgio | Australia |
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| Asaf Zohar | Israel |
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| Adrienne Krausz Adrienne Krausz Adrienne Krausz is a Hungarian pianist, b. 1967The winner of the 1989 Cincinnati World Competition while a student at the Ferenc Liszt Academy, she took part at the 1992 and 1993 Montecarlo Masters, reaching the finals. Soon afterwards she was engaged by Georg Solti for a European tour with the... |
Hungary |
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| 1992 | Xiang-Dong Kong Xiang-Dong Kong Xiang-Dong Kong is a Chinese pianist. He was one of the young musicians featured in From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China.... |
Mainland China |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) |
Sir Charles Mackerras Charles Mackerras Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan... |
| Olivier Cazal Olivier Cazal Olivier Cazal is a French pianist.He was awarded 2nd prizes at the 1988 Maria Canals Competition, the 1991 Concorso Busoni , the 1991 Long-Thibaud Competition, and the 1992 Sydney International Piano Competition... |
Early Modern France |
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| Duncan Gifford Duncan Gifford Duncan George Gifford is an Australian-born award-winning concert pianist and teacher. He has been a professor of piano at the Conservatory of Palma in Majorca since 2006. Musica Viva describes him as a "major artist of his generation"... |
Australia |
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| Hiroshi Arimori |  Japan |
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| Anna Malikova |  Russia |
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| Vitaly Samoshko Vitaly Samoshko Vitaly Samoshko is a Ukrainian pianist. He settled in Belgium in 2001.His first significant achievement was a 6th prize at the 1992 Sydney International Piano Competition. He was subsequently awarded 2nd prizes at the 1993 Concorso Busoni, the 1996 Concours de Montreal and the 1998 Arthur... |
 Ukraine |
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| Daniel Gortler | Israel |
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| Matthias Kirschnereit | Germany |
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| Michele Bolla | Italy |
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| Ivor Janssen |  Netherlands |
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| Young-Ah Kim |  South Korea |
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| Helen Sim | United States |
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| 1996 | Sergey Tarasov Sergey Tarasov (musician) Sergey Tarasov is a Russian pianist.He was awarded 2nd prizes at the 1995 Ferruccio Busoni and Arthur Rubinstein competitions before winning the 1996 Sydney International Piano Competition. In 1988 he also won the 7th Prague Spring International Piano Competition... |
Russia |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Mikhail Voskressensky Lev Vlassenko |
Sir Georg Solti Georg Solti Sir Georg Solti, KBE, was a Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor. He was a major classical recording artist, holding the record for having received the most Grammy Awards, having personally won 31 as a conductor, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to his... |
| Yuki Takao | Japan |
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| Roberto Cominati | Italy |
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| Christiano Burato | Italy |
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| Mikhail Yanovitsky | Russia |
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| Dimitry Grigortsevich | Russia |
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| Konstantin Masliouk | Russia |
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| Ingo Dannhorn | Germany |
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| David Louie | Canada |
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| Edward Park | Australia |
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| Gabor Rozsa | Hungary |
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| Anne Louise-Turgeon | Canada |
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| 2000 | Marina Kolomiitseva | Russia |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Phillip Shovk Timothy Calnin |
Sir Charles Mackerras Charles Mackerras Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan... |
| Ayako Uehara Ayako Uehara is a classical pianist.She won 2nd prize in the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition. In 2002 she became the first woman to win the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.... |
Japan |
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| Evgeny Ukhanov Evgeny Ukhanov Evgeny Ukhanov is a Ukrainian-Australian pianist. He became an Australian citizen in 2004.He commenced learning the piano at age seven and gave his first concert performance in Russia at age nine. He was a major prize winner in the International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Senigallia,... |
Ukraine |
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| Aleksey Volodin Aleksey Volodin Alexei Volodin is a Russian pianist.He was born in St. Petersburg, and began taking piano lessons there at the age of nine. A year later he moved to Moscow, where he studied first with Irina Chaklina and later with Tatiana Zelikman at the Gnessin Music School... |
Russia |
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| Vera Kamaneva | Russia |
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| Henry Wong Doe | New Zealand |
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| 2004 | John Chen John Chen John Chen is a Malaysian-born New Zealand concert pianist.In 2004 he became the youngest-ever winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition. He has a Master of Music from the University of Auckland, where he studied with Rae de Lisle... |
New Zealand |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Nancy Bricard Aquiles Delle Vigne Aquiles Delle Vigne Aquiles Delle Vigne , a pupil of Claudio Arrau, Eduardo del Pueyo and György Cziffra, is a concert pianist and a teacher from Argentina.-Early life:... Alexander Jenner Xiang-Dong Kong Xiang-Dong Kong Xiang-Dong Kong is a Chinese pianist. He was one of the young musicians featured in From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China.... Piers Lane Piers Lane Piers Lane is an Australian classical pianist. His performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works.- Early life :... William Lyne John O'Conor John O'Conor John O'Conor is an Irish pianist and pedagogue, and former director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He is frequently cited as the greatest living interpreter of the piano music of Beethoven, having recorded his entire repertoire, including the sonatas, concerti, and bagatelles... Arie Vardi Arie Vardi Arie Vardi is an Israeli classical pianist and piano pedagogue.He is currently teaching at the Buhmann-Mehta Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hanover and at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine... |
Sir Charles Mackerras Charles Mackerras Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan... |
| Rem Urasin Rem Urasin Rem Urasin is a Russian pianist.In 1992 he won the Chopin Competition in Moscow; he has performed internationally since. From 1994-99 he was trained at the Moscow Conservatory under Lev Naumov .... |
Russia |
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| Daniel Hill | Australia |
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| Ayano Shimada | Japan |
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| Alexander Lubiantsev | Russia |
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| Chu-Fang Huang | Mainland China |
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| 2008 IX Sydney International Piano Competition The IX Sydney International Piano Competition took place at the Seymour Centre in Sydney from 16 July to 2 August 2008.It was won by Konstantin Shamray.-Jury: Warren Thomson Michael Brimer Manana Doidjashvili Aquiles Delle Vigne Norma Fisher... |
Konstantin Shamray Konstantin Shamray Konstantin Shamray is a Russian pianist.A student at the Gnessin State Musical College, he won second prize at the 2007 Higher Academies of Music Competition and won a Gold Medal at the 2007 Russian Delphic Games. One year later, Shamray won the Sydney International Piano Competition... |
Russia |
Warren Thomson Warren Thomson Warren Milton Thomson OAM is an Australian pianist, music editor, music educator and piano competition juror. He is best known in Australia as Artistic Director and Chairman of the jury of the Sydney International Piano Competition since its inception in 1977. He auditions all the entrants,... (Chairman) Michael Brimer Michael Brimer Michael Brimer is a pianist, organist, conductor, composer, and academic.He was born in South Africa and studied with Eleanor Bonnar, a pupil of Leopold Godowsky. He continued studies at the University of Cape Town, the Royal College of Music, the Royal School of Church Music in London and at the... Manana Doidjashvili Manana Doidjashvili Manana Doidjashvili is a Georgian pianist.She was trained at the Tbilisi State Conservatory under Tengiz Amiredjibi. She was prized at the 1970 Enescu and 1974 Smetana competitions, and ranked 6th at the inaugural edition of the Sydney Competition.Doidjashvili is the rector of the Tbilisi State... Aquiles Delle Vigne Aquiles Delle Vigne Aquiles Delle Vigne , a pupil of Claudio Arrau, Eduardo del Pueyo and György Cziffra, is a concert pianist and a teacher from Argentina.-Early life:... Norma Fisher Norma Fisher -Biography:Norma Fisher was born in London of Russian-Polish parents. She was soon recognised as "a rare musical talent" winning an exhibition at the age of eleven, to study with Sidney Harrison at the Guildhall School of Music... Alexander Jenner Choong-Mo Kang Ian Munro Ian Munro (pianist) Ian Munro is an Australian pianist, composer, writer and music educator. His career has taken him to over 30 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia.-Biography:... Arie Vardi Arie Vardi Arie Vardi is an Israeli classical pianist and piano pedagogue.He is currently teaching at the Buhmann-Mehta Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hanover and at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine... Zhou Guangren |
Vladimir Ashkenazy Vladimir Ashkenazy Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy is a Russian-Icelandic conductor and pianist. Since 1972 he has been a citizen of Iceland, his wife Þórunn's country of birth. Since 1978, because of his many obligations in Europe, he and his family have resided in Meggen, near Lucerne in Switzerland... |
| Tatiana Kolesova | Russia |
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| Ran Dank Ran Dank Ran Dank is an Israeli classical pianist, who currently lives in New York, USA.-Early life:Dank started playing the piano at the age of seven with Yaakov Krantz. He went on to work with Liora Peleg at the Givaataim Conservatory, and from 1994 until 2002 he studied with Professor Vadim Monastirsky... |
Israel |
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| Takashi Sato | Japan |
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| Tomoki Kitamura | Japan |
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| Eric Zuber | United States |
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| 2012 |
External links
- American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition International Competition for Young Pianists and Professionals with winners performing at Carnegie Hall, New York http://www.americanprotege.com
- Official website
- ABC Classic FM - Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia
- Piano Competitions & Music Competitions at Bakitone International