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Contestants announced for 2020 Cleveland International Piano Competition

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by Jarrett Hoffman

Contestants have been announced for the 2020 Cleveland International Piano Competition, which takes place at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Severance Hall from July 26 to August 9.

Here are the numbers: Piano Cleveland, the presenting organization of the Competition, received 242 applicants from 28 nations. And the 29 chosen contestants, ages 20-32, represent 12 countries: Brazil, China, Croatia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and the United States.

At stake is the Mixon First Prize of $75,000, which also comes with a Carnegie Hall debut, three years of management services, and a recording on the Steinway & Sons label.

[Read more…]

CIPC Concert Series: Angela Hewitt plays Bach at Baldwin Wallace (May 18)

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by Timothy Robson

Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt played a recital sponsored by the Cleveland International Piano Competition on Saturday evening, May 18 in Gamble Auditorium at Baldwin Wallace University. I do not remember another concert in which every aspect of the performance had the level of technical virtuosity and surpassing taste and musicianship of this program.

[Read more…]

Cleveland International Piano Competition kicks off 2019 Concert Series with Jeremy Denk

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by Mike Telin

If you’ve ever wondered what the Cleveland International Piano Competition does during the gap years between its signature event, the answer is a lot. Last spring CIPC hosted its Young Artist Competition, and from January through May will present five free concerts at the Beachwood Community Center. And on Saturday, January 19 the Competition will kick off the 2019 Concert Series with an 8:00 pm recital by Jeremy Denk at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Mixon Hall.

Denk, an Oberlin alum and winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, will perform Beethoven’s Five Variations on “Rule Britannia” in D and An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98/S. 469 (transc. Liszt), Adams’ I Still Play, Bizet’s Variations chromatiques, Mendelssohn’s Variations sérieuses in d, Op. 54, and Schumann’s Fantasy in C, Op. 1. Tickets are available online.

“We’re very happy Jeremy is coming,” CIPC President & CEO Yaron Kohlberg said during a telephone conversation. “He’s one of the major pianists in the United States right now. He’ll be presenting a wonderful program and I look forward to a beautiful concert.”

This Saturday’s concert also marks one of Kohlberg’s first public events since he began his tenure with the Competition this past fall. Kohlberg, the second prize winner at the 2007 CIPC, is uniquely qualified for the job. [Read more…]

CIPC Announces 2018 Prizes in Young Artists Competition

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by Daniel Hathaway

CIPC YA FInalists 2018

Customarily, the Cleveland International Piano Competition announces its winner late in the evening of its final round, which this year featured concertos with the Canton Symphony Orchestra on Friday evening, June 8 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center. But for the Young Artists Competition this time around, CIPC kept its competitors and followers in suspense until an awards ceremony the following evening at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Here are the results (L-R: Shuan Hern Lee, Hao Wei Lin, Eva Gevorgyan, Xiaoxuan Li, Yunchan Lim, JiWon Yang):

JUNIOR DIVISION
First Prize ($10,000): Eva Gevorgyan (13, Russia)
Second Prize ($5,000): Yunchan Lim (13, South Korea)
Third Prize ($2,500): Hao Wei Lin (13, Taiwan)

SENIOR DIVISION
First Prize ($25,000): Xiaoxuan Li (16, China)
Second Prize ($10,000): Shuan Hern Lee (15, Australia)
Third Prize ($5,000): JiWon Yang (16, South Korea) [Read more…]

CIPC head to take up reins of the Gilmore Keyboard Festival

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by Daniel Hathaway

WesthuizenCleveland—September 28, 2017. After serving as president and CEO of the Cleveland International Piano Competition since 2011, Pierre van der Westhuizen has announced his appointment as Director of the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards in Kalamazoo, Michigan, beginning on January 2 of 2018.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of the CIPC family for these seven years,” van der Westhuizen said in a press statement released today.  “I’ve been touched by the most wondrous music, the most dedicated individuals, and the most generous and supportive patrons one could possibly hope for.  I extend my deepest thanks to all.” [Read more…]

Cliburn Competition finals to hit the big screen on June 10

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by Daniel Hathaway

CliburnThe eventual six finalists in Fort Worth’s 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will play concertos with Leonard Slatkin and the Fort Worth Symphony on Saturday afternoon, June 10. For the first time, the final round will be streamed live in HD to select theaters beginning at 12:55 pm. Click here to locate a local screening venue.

On Tuesday, May 30, twelve semifinalists were named — including two competitors who will be familiar to Northeast Ohio piano fans (above): Georgy Tchaidze won fourth prize in the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition, and Tony Yike Yang was first prize winner in Oberlin’s 2014 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Piano Competition. [Read more…]

CIPC Concert Series: Nikita Mndoyants at Maltz with the Omni Quartet (April 30)

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by Mike Telin

MndoyantsOn his way to winning the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition, Nikita Mndoyants gave a thrilling performance of Prokofiev’s dissonant Sonata No. 7 in B-flat during his semi-final round. The pianist returned to Cleveland on April 30 to give an impressive recital at the Maltz Performing Arts Center. And again, he proved to have an affinity for the music of the Russian composer. [Read more…]

CIPC to present Martha Argerich in Cleveland debut with Sergei Babayan

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by Mike Telin
Cleveland — May 1, 2017

Argerich-BabayanThe Cleveland International Piano Competition (CIPC) announced today that it will present legendary pianist Martha Argerich in her Cleveland debut in a duo piano performance with her friend and colleague Sergei Babayan on Monday, October 30, at 7:30 pm in Severance Hall.

“It’s unbelievable that this is Martha’s first performance in Cleveland,” CIPC president and CEO Pierre van der Westhuizen said during an interview. “And having her play with Sergei, a CIPC winner who has gone on to have his own spectacular career, makes it even more special. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The program will include Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos, K. 448 and the Larghetto and Allegro for Two Pianos, as well as Babayan’s two-piano transcriptions of music of Prokofiev. [Read more…]

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