Scottish International Piano Competition to return next month

The triennial Scottish International Piano Competition (SIPC) is set to return to Glasgow next month. The competition’s 2023 edition will welcome 30 pianists to compete for a £15,000 cash prize plus the chance to perform as part of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s (RSNO) 2024-25 season.

The upcoming competition marks the first edition of the triennial since 2017. Finalists will compete in the competition’s three solo recital stages, all open to the public, at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), before joining forces with the RSNO on 10 September at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s New Auditorium. As well as the top prize, competitors will be competing for a second prize of £10,000 and a third prize of £5,000.

SIPC artistic director and RCS head of keyboard Professor Aaron Shorr said: The SIPC ‘inspires a new generation of pianists living and studying in Scotland. We’re also thrilled that internationally acclaimed pianist and 2004 winner Tanya Gabrielian is opening this year’s event. Tanya has gone on grace some of the finest stages across the globe and her afternoon recital will start the competition off on the perfect note.’

Competitors will perform for a panel of judges chaired by Professor Shorr and including pianists and pedagogues Ingo Dannhorn, Clare Hammond, Carole Presland, Marc Silverman, Boris Slutsky, and Albert Tiu. Composer David Önaç will judge the Best Performance of the Compulsory Work Prize (£500) for which pianists must choose any two of his Five Études as part of their semi-final programme.

Established in 1986, SIPC is open to pianists aged between 18 and 30. The 2023 winner will join a list of winners including Pavel Kolesnikov and Tom Poster, who have gone on to launch successful international careers. Tanya Gabrielian, who won the competition in 2004, will kick off the competition with a guest recital on 31 August.