Three of the world’s best young pianists will be competing in the finals for the first ever Midwest International Piano Competition, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa’s School of Music at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. Iowa Public Radio’s Jacqueline Halbloom and Al Schares will host a live Performance Iowa broadcast, presenting taped interviews with the finalists and commentary from the competition founders, UNI’s Assistant Professor of Piano Dmitri Vorobiev and Associate Professor of Piano Sean Botkin between the concerts.
The Midwest International Piano Competition features 26 student and professional pianists from across the globe competing in one of two divisions, the junior division (up to age 17) and the senior division (up to age 32). The junior division has three cash prize winners, with a top prize of $2500. The senior division has six honorable mentions and three cash prizes, with a grand prize of $10,000. The senior winner will also make a CD recording with the Blue Griffin label, have a concerto performance with the wcfsymphony on November 1, 2014, and receive an optional 2-year professional management contract with Heartland Concert Artists. This year’s competitors come from as far away as China, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Peru, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, and Ukraine. The competition is judged by internationally acclaimed pianists Arthur Greene, Alexander Toradze, and MiroslavBrejcha. The three finalists will perform their recital on the stage of the Great Hall at the UNI’sGallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls.
Don’t miss Iowa Public Radio’s live coverage of the Midwest International Piano Competition on Performance Iowa, Saturday, June 7 starting at 5:00 p.m. Live video streaming of the event is also available online at http://live.uni.edu/
The preliminary rounds take place between June 1-5 and are free and open to the public. The finals concert for the junior category begins at 2 p.m. Friday, June 6 at $10 a ticket. The finals concert and receptions for the senior category begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at $25 a ticket. Tickets are available by calling 319-273-4TIX or at www.uni.edu/tickets.
