2016 PianoArts North American Competition

Posted on: August 22nd, 2015

The 2016 PianoArts Biennial North American Competition, open to pianists, ages 16 ­– 20, will be held June 2 – 8 in Milwaukee. Prizes total more than $27,000 and include a scholarship to attend the 2017 International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City, as well as performances in major concert halls and fellowships to perform for diverse Milwaukee audiences. Members of the jury are renowned artists: Joseph Kalichstein, Ursula Oppens, and Peter Takács. Biographies: 2016 Jury

Registration for the competition is February 6; submission for the video preliminary round is February 20. Video requirements include performances of a solo and all movements of a concerto from the PianoArts repertory list. Following the March preliminary round, the preliminary jury will advance up to ten contestants to participate the June semifinals in Milwaukee.

Semifinalists (also called PianoArtists) will perform twice: a Solo and a Collaborate Recital. The latter will include a duo with a Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra violinist or cellist and the first movement of the selected concerto with a pianist performing the orchestral parts.

All PianoArtists will perform all movements of their selected concertos. Following the performance of the first movement in the Collaborative Recital, PianoArtists will perform the second and third movements with a quintet of orchestral musicians participating in the concurrent festival. Additionally, PianoArtists will participate in a “baton” class with Music Director Andrews Sill. New in 2016, finalists will have three rehearsals before performing their concertos in the Finals and Awards Concert. The first rehearsal is with the conductor, the second with a quintet of MSO musicians, and the third is with the full orchestra.

Educational opportunities during the competition week include classes in techniques that prepare musicians to perform their best during auditions and recitals, coaching sessions on speaking about music, and a workshop with arts managers on building careers. All PianoArtists will have two rehearsals with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra violinists or cellists before performing in the competition’s Collaborative Semifinal Recital. Following the competition, all PianoArtists have private conversations about their performances with members of the jury. To share their music with those unable to attend live concerts, PianoArtists will give outreach performances in local retirement centers and other facilities.

Throughout the competition and during the awarded fellowship residencies, PianoArts helps young musicians build their careers. “PianoArts provides extremely valuable and life-changing opportunities for its competitors and winners,” said Jacob Ertl, a 2002 PianoArts winner. “The professionals on the PianoArts team work with you extensively on communicating with diverse audiences, programming, and presentation planning. You come out a more well-rounded and knowledgeable musician ready to take on the demands of a career in music and able to communicate your passion to others.”

During the competition week, three days are devoted to rehearsals and sessions with the conductor and professional musicians; the competition is held on alternating days.

Applications will be available on the website in November. More information is on www.Facebook.com/pianoarts.

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The mission of PianoArts is to develop innovative ways to foster appreciation and performance of classical music by identifying and training a new generation of pianists with exceptional musical and verbal communication skills and by presenting them to diverse audiences.