The Honens International Piano Competition finished off on a high note on Friday, October 26.The triennial piano competition, showcasing the best of the world’s emerging pianists, had ten of the world’s most accomplished pianists, aged 20 to 30, performing in Calgary over the previous week for the semi-finals and finals of this prestigious competition.
Each semi-finalist performed two recitals – a 60-minute solo recital and a 70-minute collaborative concert with violinist Geoff Nuttall (of Canada’s acclaimed St Lawrence String Quartet), cellist Johannes Moser, and singer Amanda Roocroft.
The five pianists who advanced to the finals (October 25 and 26) performaned with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and its Music Director, Roberto Minczuk. These included Lorenzo of Italy, Maria Mazo of Russia, Jong Hai Park of South Korea, Eric Zubar of the United States, and Pavel Kolesnikov of Russia.
For the final evening, guests watched and listened to performances by Mazo and Park, both of which were fantastic. After the two performances, guests were treated to a champagne reception and the awards show at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Each performance was truly notable, though there could only be one winner. The 2012 Honens Laureate was announced that evening and the coveted title was awarded to Pavel Kolesnikov.
As the winner, Kolesnikov received $100,000 worth of prize money and a spot in the Artistic and Career Development Program, which is designed to jump-start his career and establish his place as a professional musician, while also contributing to the communities that Honens is a part of.
For those who may have missed the final performance or want to see it again, click here.
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