Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition opens with Ukrainian and Russian competitors
Florence Lockheart
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
This years competition received a record 360 applications, with 50 competitors taking part in the competition's live performances.
Delayed for a year due to the pandemic, the 2022 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition returned this week with competitors from more than 40 countries, including Russia and Ukraine, performing alongside each other.
With a first prize of £15,000, this year’s competition performances, including the two-night final, will be streamed via YouTube and the competition website.
Competitors will perform for an international jury led by Professor Vanessa Latarche, head of Piano at the Royal College of Music. She commented: ‘We have much to celebrate in the live music-making of our brilliant young pianists, and I look forward to seeing you there in person.’
The jury will also include:
- Paul Hughes - BBC Symphony Orchestra director
- Aisa Ijiri - Pianist and Steinway Artist
- Stanislav Ioudenitch - Van Cliburn Piano Competition gold medalist
- Diana Ketler - Professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music
- Scott Dunn - Conductor, pianist and composer
- Anthony Byrne - Professor of piano at the Royal Irish Academy of Music
Contestants will be accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which will perform during the two-night final on Friday and Saturday, and by the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra, a graduate orchestra created in collaboration with the Royal College of Music, which offers training and performance opportunities during the competition semi-finals and throughout the year.
Hastings International Piano Managing Director, Ian Roberts, said ‘It’s thrilling to be able to present our audiences two orchestras during this competition, and also host a jury of some of the world’s most respected artists and professors, led by our eminent President of the Jury Professor Vanessa.’
This year’s competition received a record 360 entries. Contestants entered by video audition only, to improve the competitions’ environmental sustainability and final selections for the 50 competitors chosen to take part in the competition’s live rounds were made in November.
Competition tickets can be purchased from the White Rock Theatre Box Office.
You can find out more about the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition here.