Seventeen of the most outstanding adult amateur pianists from around the world are preparing to step out of the living room and onto the concert platform at Chetham's next month after being selected to perform at the live semi-final of the prestigious 2012 Amateur Piano Competition presented by Pianist magazine, Yamaha and Chetham’s School of Music.
Attracting entries worldwide, the semi-finalists, all aged 30 and over, hail from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and mainland Europe and their diverse range of day jobs include a solicitor, banker, chemist, author, human genetics scientist and parcel sorter for the Royal Mail.
Following the live semi-final at Whitely Hall, Chetham’s School of Music throughout Tuesday 21st August, six finalists will be selected to perform at the Royal Northern College of Music on the evening of Wednesday 22nd August in front of distinguished judges Noriko Ogawa, Michael Roll, Murray McLachlan and Pianist magazine editor Erica Worth. Compere for the live final is Philip Fowke, who is respected and admired worldwide as one of Britain’s most distinguished pianists.
An amazing prize and opportunity of their lifetime awaits the winner, who will be featured inside Pianist magazine, have their winning performance recorded for Pianist’s cover CD, give a recital at Yamaha Artist Services Recital Room in London plus play a concerto movement with the Manchester Camerata Chamber Orchestra in 2013.
The semi-finalists were selected in the preliminary round by a jury comprising Erica Worth (Pianist Editor), Murray McLachlan (Head of Keyboard, Chetham’s) and Jesper Buhl (Director, Danacord Records), who listened to competitors’ recordings of repertoire ranging from a Bach Prelude, to Ravel’s Gaspard, to Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
The semi-finalists and finalists will perform using Yamaha’s flagship new CFX concert grand piano, the choice of many of the world’s leading concert artists.
Both the semi-final and final (where there will also be an ‘Audience Favourite’ award) will be take place in front of a live audience comprising members of the general public who can expect piano performances of the highest standard and purchase tickets as follows:
SEMI-FINALS TICKETS ON SALE
Come along and watch the semi-final performances at Chetham’s Summer School, 21 August, 11.30am – 6pm. Results announced at 7pm. Tickets £10 /£5 concessions. To book your ticket visit www.pianistmagazine.com or call +44 (0)113 200 2916
BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR THE FINALS NOW
At the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 22 August, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 /£8 concessions. To book, visit the RNCM box office, call +44 (0)161 907 555, email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit www.rncm.ac.uk
Semi-finalists 2012 Amateur Piano Competition
Dr Peter Bispham Wallingford
Deirbhile Brennan Dublin
David Dean Dulwich
Martin Evans London
Robert Finley Massachusetts, USA
Yvonne Fung London
Gil Jetley Beckenham
Sir Victor Jimenez Getxo, Spain
Alain Le Pichon Paris, France
Nuno Maulide Lochbecker Berg, Germany
Peter Morgan London
Thomas Maurice Maryland, USA
Nigel Rogers St Albans
Dr Ian Roy Nuneaton
Anna Maria Stachula Walsall
Thomas Yu Calgary, Canada
Dr Caroline Wright Cambridge
Read more about the background to the Competition at
www.pianistmagazine.com
http://uk.yamaha.com/
http://www.pianosummerschool.com/
