ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre to host prestigious international piano competition
Bösendorfer and Yamaha competition
Recognized as among the leading international piano competitions, the
“The competitions are dedicated to the discovery and encouragement of young pianists, providing exposure on a national and international level and assisting them in fulfilling their dreams of pursuing a professional career,” said Baruch Meir, artistic director of the competition and associate professor of piano in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre.
This year’s competition attracted the largest number of applicants in the event’s history. A total of 350 pianists representing 33 countries from around the world plus the United States applied to the competition, with 43 exceptional pianists being selected to perform in the semi-final and final rounds. All competition rounds are open to the public.
The competition features legendary pianist Martha Argerich, widely considered to be one of the greatest living pianists, as an honored member of the competition jury. Argerich will also perform at the opening gala concert on Jan. 2, 2025.
Competition prizes include more than $60,000 in cash awards, performance opportunities and recording contracts for the top winners. New to this year’s Bösendorfer first prize is a recital at Bösendorfer Hall in Vienna, Austria, together with laureates of other important competitions, including the Beethoven competition.
In addition to the performance in Vienna, the winner of the Bösendorfer competition will present a solo recital at the Oracle Piano Society of Arizona, a solo recital at Arizona Arts Live in Tucson, Arizona, and will receive a professional studio recording at Yamaha Artist Services in New York City. All competition winners will receive cash prizes.
According to Meir, each applicant submitted initial video recordings that were evaluated by a screening committee who took into consideration the applicant’s pianistic and artistic abilities, as well as their achievements to date. In the live semi-finals and final rounds, the competitors will be judged on their musical imagination and artistic convictions.
Meir, a Bösendorfer Concert Artist, created the first competition in January 2006, after several years of attending the renowned Arthur Rubenstein International Competition and later serving as the competitors’ coordinator of the competition.
The semi-final and final rounds of the Bösendorfer competition will be held Jan. 3, 4 and 6. The semi-final and final rounds for the Yamaha Senior and Junior competitions will take place Jan. 5 and 7. The winners’ recital and awards ceremony will take place Jan. 8. All performances will be in ASU’s Katzin Concert Hall on the Tempe campus.
A complete schedule of all competition events and times, competitors, jury, tickets, parking and prizes is available on the competition website and on the competition’s event app, which is accessible through the ASU Special Events app.
Tickets for all Yamaha and Bösendorfer live performances can be purchased at pianocompetition.music.asu.edu/tickets. Daily and weekly passes are available in advance for purchase online or by calling ASU Purplepass at 480-965-6447. The opening gala concert and winners’ recital on Jan. 8 requires a separate ticket.
For more information, contact the competition office by email at pianocompetition@asu.edu or phone at 480-965-8740.