I European Union Piano Competition
Encyclopedia
The I European Union Piano Competition took place in Prague
and Ostrava
from June 24th to the 29th 2009, as part of the cultural program accompanying the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union
. It was jointly organized by the International Dvorak Society and EPTA
(European Piano Teachers Association). The purpose of the competition was to deepen the cultural integration of the member states and to find the most promising young pianist of the European Union. The selection of the candidates (First Round) was provided with the help of embassies, Ministries of Culture, EPTA organizations, and leading European music schools and institutions. Only candidates delegated from those authorities were accepted to participate, one candidate for each EU country. A total of 27 pianists were accepted to the Semi-Final Round in Prague
, which consisted of a 60-minute piano recital, performed at the Nostitz Palace. Four finalists where then chosen to perform with one of the leading Czech orchestras, the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
(formerly known as the Czech Radio Orchestra), in a concert broadcast by both Czech Television and Czech Radio. Pianist Josu De Solaun Soto
was given the First Prize and Audience Prize. The prize included a cash award and a string of recital and orchestral engagements.
Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
. Theodore Kuchar
, conductor.
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
from June 24th to the 29th 2009, as part of the cultural program accompanying the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national...
. It was jointly organized by the International Dvorak Society and EPTA
EPTA
EPTA can refer to:* European Parliamentary Technology Assessment* European Pulsar Timing Array* Phosphotungstic acid* European Piano Teachers Association* European Pilot Training Academy...
(European Piano Teachers Association). The purpose of the competition was to deepen the cultural integration of the member states and to find the most promising young pianist of the European Union. The selection of the candidates (First Round) was provided with the help of embassies, Ministries of Culture, EPTA organizations, and leading European music schools and institutions. Only candidates delegated from those authorities were accepted to participate, one candidate for each EU country. A total of 27 pianists were accepted to the Semi-Final Round in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, which consisted of a 60-minute piano recital, performed at the Nostitz Palace. Four finalists where then chosen to perform with one of the leading Czech orchestras, the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra is a noted orchestra based in Ostrava in the northeast of the Czech Republic. It is named after the famous Czech composer Leoš Janáček. The orchestra was established in 1954 and has toured all across the world...
(formerly known as the Czech Radio Orchestra), in a concert broadcast by both Czech Television and Czech Radio. Pianist Josu De Solaun Soto
Josu De Solaun Soto
Josu De Solaun is a Spanish classical music pianist and winner of both the First Prize at the I European Union Piano Competition held in Prague, and the First Grand Prize at the XV José Iturbi International Piano Competition. He is the first pianist from Spain to have ever been awarded the coveted...
was given the First Prize and Audience Prize. The prize included a cash award and a string of recital and orchestral engagements.
Jury
-
- Radoslav Kvapil
Radoslav KvapilRadoslav Kvapil is an internationally acclaimed Czech pianist and composer, considered by some to be the among the finest exponents of Czech piano music...
(president) - Justas Dvarionas
- Diane Andersen
- Walter Groppenberger
- Peep Lassmann
Peep LassmannPeep Lassmann is an Estonian pianist trained at the Moscow Conservatory under Emil Gilels who has served as the rector of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre since 1992. He has performed the Estonian premieres of Olivier Messiaen's Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus and Catalogue... - Malcolm Troup
PRIZES
-
- FIRST PRIZE ------ Josu de Solaun Soto
Josu De Solaun SotoJosu De Solaun is a Spanish classical music pianist and winner of both the First Prize at the I European Union Piano Competition held in Prague, and the First Grand Prize at the XV José Iturbi International Piano Competition. He is the first pianist from Spain to have ever been awarded the coveted... - SECOND PRIZE ------------- Matej Arendárik
- FIRST PRIZE ------
-
- Finalist Diploma (ex-aequo) ------- Fiachra Garvey -----
Raul Peixoto Da Costa
- Finalist Diploma (ex-aequo) -------
-
- Audience Prize (by vote)------------------------------------------------------------ Josu de Solaun SotoJosu De Solaun SotoJosu De Solaun is a Spanish classical music pianist and winner of both the First Prize at the I European Union Piano Competition held in Prague, and the First Grand Prize at the XV José Iturbi International Piano Competition. He is the first pianist from Spain to have ever been awarded the coveted...
- Audience Prize (by vote)------------------------------------------------------------
First Round
After a three-month long screening process, 27 pianists were selected to participate, one candidate for each EU country. The selection of candidates for this first round was provided with the help of Ministries of Culture and other organizations.Semi-Final Round
June 24 - 27, Nostitz Palace, Prague-
- Andreas Eggertsberger
- Rafael Theissen
- Victoria Vassilenko
- Eleni Mavromoustaki
- Ladislav Dolezel
- Kristoffer Nyholm Hyldig
- Maksim Stsura
- Maija Vaisanen
- Nairi Badal
- Felix Wahl
- Maria Stratigou
- Istvan Lajko
- Fiachra Garvey
- Ruta Birzule
- Sonata Alsauskaite-Mikule
- Jean Muller
- Alexei Galea
- Nicolas van Poucke
- Raul Peixoto da Costa
- Ivan Fercic
- Matej Arendarik
- Josu de Solaun Soto
- Peter Friis Johansson
- Mishka Rushdie Momen
Final Round
June 29, Great Hall, Culture Palace, Ostrava-
- Josu de Solaun Soto --- Sergei Rachmaninov: Concerto for piano and orchestra nº3
- Fiachra Garvey --- Sergei Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini
- Matej Arendarik --- Antonin DvorakAntonín DvorákAntonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
: Concerto for piano and orchestra - Raul Peixoto da Costa --- Frederic ChopinFrédéric ChopinFrédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
: Concerto for piano and orchestra nº1
Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra is a noted orchestra based in Ostrava in the northeast of the Czech Republic. It is named after the famous Czech composer Leoš Janáček. The orchestra was established in 1954 and has toured all across the world...
. Theodore Kuchar
Theodore Kuchar
Theodore Kuchar is a Ukrainian American conductor of classical music and a violist.-Biography:Kuchar was born in 1960 in New York City. He started to learn to play the violin at ten years of age, later switching to viola...
, conductor.