Talent on another scale – the Sydney International Piano Competition
Image: Wynona Yinuo Wang in Preliminary Round, SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION 2023. Photo by Jaimi Joy
After a thrilling series of preliminaries, the Sydney International Piano Competition (The Sydney) has entered the final stretch with six competitors vying for a total prize pool of $205,000. Up for grabs are cash prizes, international concert engagements, CD recordings and career mentoring.
The finalists are: Yungyung Guo, Jeonghwan Kim, Uladzislau Khandohi, Yuanfan Yang, Vitaly Starikov and Wynona Yinuo Wang. They will compete across two rounds and four sessions from Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd July, each performing two concerts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
The Sydney was established in 1977 and has grown to become one of the most prestigious and challenging piano competitions in the world. This year’s opening field of 32 competitors represent the vanguard of virtuosity on the piano.
Normally held every four years (although it will now be held every three), the event was interrupted by the pandemic, meaning it’s been a good seven years since the last live competition.
“The Online Competition which replaced the 2020 live competition was a great initiative in difficult times, but required a completely different concept and lacked the overall picture of the competitors that one can only get from live contact,” says Concert pianist Piers Lane AO, Artistic Director of Piano+. “Endless audience members have come up to me this past week to thank me and say how much they appreciate the concerts and the extraordinary level of piano playing they’re witnessing – there’s nothing like the real thing.”
The jury for The Sydney is comprised of distinguished international concert pianists who are also prominent figures in the music world.
“All are highly experienced performers themselves and know what lies ahead for the top prize winners in The Sydney. They are looking for true musical artists who have something unique and special to communicate in the music chosen,” explains Lane. “Their virtuosity is almost taken for granted – the jury seeks musical depth and intelligence and personality and stamina and the ability to make one listen – they’re looking for new stars in the musical firmament.”
The pianists are given a lot of latitude in selecting their pieces and this allows audiences to hear a diverse range of music.
“The Competition aims to make its requirements as true to real life as possible and performers choose their own programs in real life – so they do so here also. It is still obvious to experienced judges which pianists ‘find’ more in their chosen works. It’s always interesting to hear several players in the same pieces across the Competition – their interpretations can vary so intriguingly, while remaining faithful to the score and the spirit of the composer,” says Lane.
Having himself competed in the very first competition on 1977, Lane fully appreciates the level of pressure being felt by the young pianists.
“The world fame of The Sydney means that top level pianists enter, so the 32 contestants know they have to be totally on form when they come here to compete,” he explains, “and to play in front of a distinguished jury and a live audience of piano lovers, along with a huge international livestream public, with recordings that will remain on the net – that’s a lot of pressure on the performers.”
First prize in The Sydney is $50,000 cash and an illustrious list of international engagements and opportunities. It is almost a golden ticket to a career as a concert pianist.
All perfomances are open to the public, and Lane strongly encourages lovers of music and artistry to attend.
“Performers need audiences – please come to the Opera House on Tuesday and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to hear truly remarkable international pianists perform concertos with the Sydney Symphony. They will be thrilling occasions and are only available once every three years…”
