A piano-based competition is bringing worldwide musicians to Calgary this week following delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Honens International Piano Competition takes place from Oct. 20 to Oct. 28 at the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts and the Jack Singer Concert Hall. To purchase tickets and for more information you can visit the Honens’ website.
You can watch the competition livestream here:
The competition began in 1992 after Calgary philanthropist and art enthusiast, Esther Honens, donated $5 million to introduce the piano world to Calgary through competition. Honens’ dream lives on every three years when young pianists worldwide apply with hopes of being accepted into the competition.
Artistic director of this year’s competition, Jon Kimura Parker, says the spotlight will be shining bright on the city for the last two weeks of October.
“It’s the piano world equivalent of putting on the Olympics. The eyes of the music world, and especially the piano world are going to be 100 per cent focused on Calgary,” said Kimura Parker.
Only 50 applicants are chosen each year, with 10 moving on to compete in Calgary after quarterfinal competitions in New York and Frankfurt.
The semi finalists perform public solo recitals and chamber music programs with an esteemed violinist in front of a jury of seven international pianists and managers.
Three finalists will be chosen to perform two programs, one of which is with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. At the end of the competition a Honens Prize Laureate will be chosen, winning $100,000 and the chance to participate in an artistic development program.
The 2018 winner, Nicolas Namoradze, will be attending this year’s competition to give a series of seminars and lectures titled Mind Over Music, combining his degree in neuroscience with his talent for piano.
The 10th edition of the competition was set to take place in Fall 2021, but Honens opted to delay rather than move to an online format.
“I think it’s just really important that these young musicians actually experience being in Calgary, and the very vibrant support that we have for Calgary, and for music, and also for the jury to be able to hear these performers live,” said Kimura Parker.
The Honens International Piano Competition takes place from Oct. 20 to Oct. 28 at the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts and the Jack Singer Concert Hall. To purchase tickets and for more information you can visit the Honens’ website.
