Piano 2014: Candidates, programming, and activities

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MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL COMPETITION – PIANO 2014
FROM MAY 26 TO JUNE 6

CANDIDATES, PROGRAMMING, AND ACTIVITIES

Montreal, April 29, 2014 — Twenty-four young pianists—among the world’s finest—will take part in the 13th edition of the Montreal International Musical Competition (MIMC), from May 26 to June 6. 11 women and 13 men from 14 different countries, and with an average age of 23, have been selected to participate.

The Quarter Final round (from May 26 to 28) and the Semi-Final round (May 30 and 31) will take place in Bourgie Hall at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The Final round (June 3 and 4) and the gala concert featuring the winners (June 6) will take place at the Maison symphonique de Montréal, with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, who makes his Montreal debut. It is worth recalling that Jean-Luc Mongrain, a prominent personality on the Quebec media scene for over 30 years, is the spokesperson for this edition of the Competition.

Preceding the MIMC on May 20 will be the first edition of a competitive round for the Richard Lupien Improvisation Prize, taking place in Tanna Schulich Hall at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. With this new prize, the MIMC is seeking to reward a pianist who strives to restore the glory of improvisation in classical music. In the evening, pianist and improviser Gabriela Montero will give a recital based on suggestions from the audience, in Pollack Hall.

The discovery and development of talented young musicians is a core part of the MIMC’s mandate. To that end, “An Exceptional Duo,” made up of 14 year-old pianist Daniel Clarke Bouchard and his mentor, renowned jazz pianist Oliver Jones, will be joining forces for the first time on the stage of the Maison symphonique de Montréal, on June 2 at 7:30 pm. All profits from this classical- and jazz-inspired benefit concert will go to the MIMC Foundation.

Free activities complementing the competition will also be open to the public. Pianist Michel Béroff—a member of the MIMC’s international jury—will be giving a master class on May 29 at 2:30 pm in Bourgie Hall. Pianist Bruno Fontaine—member of the international jury for the Richard Lupien Improvisation Prize—will hold an improvisation workshop on May 21 at 2 pm in Tanna Schulich Hall.

Certain rounds of the Competition will also be available on various broadcast platforms. Radio-Canada will air several special programs, in addition to covering the Semi-Final round and broadcasting the Final round live on ICI Musique, the MIMC’s official broadcaster, and on ici.musique.ca/cmim. CBC Radio One and Radio 2 will also be covering the Competition in their programs and on cbcmusic.ca/mimc. The Final round will be heard in several countries around the world through Radio-Canada’s association with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The Richard Lupien Improvisation Prize and Gabriela Montero’s concert will be broadcast live on www.medici.tv and available internationally for on demand listening for three months.

It’s a date… for all piano fans!

To see the complete press release, please click here.