Calgary hosting an esteemed event for emerging pianists from around the world

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If you’re a fan of classical piano music, you’re in for a treat. 

One of the classical piano world’s most highly regarded events, the finals of the Honens International Piano Competition will take place Oct. 27-28 in Calgary.

The top three finalists are Rachel Breen, U.S., 26; Sasha Kasman Laude, U.S., 27, and; Illia Ovcharenko, Ukraine, 21.

The finalists were narrowed down from 10 through semifinal performances that took place in Calgary from Oct. 20-24.

The semifinalist solo and collaborative recitals were performed by top emerging classical pianists from around the globe: Austria, Hungary, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine and the U.S.

“Calgary becomes the centre of the piano universe for these two weeks in October,” says Jon Kimura Parker, an award-winning pianist and the Honens International Piano Competition’s artistic director. 

“For these young musicians, it’s the most important competition of their burgeoning careers.”

This year marks the 30th year since the inaugural Competition and the 10th edition (which takes place every three years.)

The finals will be held at the Jack Singer Concert Hall and Mount Royal University’s Bella Concert Hall. 

For tickets and information, go to honens.com. 

Close to 150 applicants from around the world applied online to compete this year. The entrance age is between 20 and 30, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Competition was postponed for a year and, as a result, one competitor is 31 years old. 

Earlier this year, the 2022 applicant list was narrowed down to 50 quarterfinalists. Each quarterfinalist then competed in New York or Frankfurt, Germany.

A four-member jury then chose 10 semifinalists, who hope to earn one of classical piano’s biggest prizes: $100,000 in cash and an invaluable three-year international career development program. 

A different jury made up of seven members met in Calgary to choose the final three and will ultimately pick the Honens Prize Laureate.

To choose the winner, each jury member privately gives scores that are fed into a program that ranks each performer numerically. 

In the case of a tie, the jury meets to discuss each performer’s general merits and artistic contributions until a consensus is met.

“Some systems can be as complicated as ratings from zero to 100, while others are as simple as: ‘Do you want to hear this person play again or not?’ ” Kimura Parker says. 

“Honens has what, I believe, is the best system in the world, created by two Calgary mathematicians. Every judge votes 100 per cent with their conscience.”

This year will mark Kimura Parker’s 30th year with the competition; he served on the jury in the inaugural Competition and has never looked back. He has performed and judged at the most prestigious piano competitions around the world and says the Honens Competition is always his favourite.  

“It is a fascinating experience, to hear these young musicians who are playing incredibly difficult music for piano and are putting together their own solo repertoire,” says Kimura Parker.

“We hear them at their absolute best, playing the music they’re most comfortable sharing — and that’s genuinely exciting.”

Nicolas Namoradze — the Competition’s previous winner — has been featured on BBC Radio and in various newspapers and magazines, including International Piano Magazine and The Guardian. In addition to his international performances, he is working on a graduate degree in neuroscience in the United Kingdom.

As part of his research, he will present a series of public discussions, Mind Over Music, at this year’s Competition. 

Can’t attend in person? Much of the 2022 Honens competition will be online at honens.com and on the IDAGIO Global Concert Hall.

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Honens International Piano Competition.