Introducing the CIPC Festival
Over the past few months the staff and volunteers at CIPC have been working enthusiastically to bring fresh and exciting new dimensions to the next Competition. Presented collectively as the CIPC Festival, each event is designed to offer patrons an opportunity to learn something new, enjoy a different kind of music, or simply to meet new friends and have fun. 
Plans are still being made, and this is only a partial list, but following are a few details that have been confirmed:
- The traditional opening ceremony of past years has been expanded into a major event that will launch both the Competition and the CIPC Festival. It will include a performance by 2011 First Prize winner Alexander Schimpf, an onstage introduction of the contestants, and a party in the Ames Family Atrium at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- CIPC Executive Director Pierre van der Westhuizen will lead a jury roundtable discussion focusing on what jurors really listen and look for during competition performances and the truth about how music competitions impact careers – or do they?
- Peter Takács, Professor of Piano at Oberlin College and Conservatory, will present a lecture entitled “The Art of Performing Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas”.
- Jurors Nelita True and Roberto Plano (CIPC 2001 First Prize Winner) will conduct a master class for local conservatory students and CIPC Young Artist competition winners.
- A series of thought provoking, piano-themed films will be presented at the Cleveland Museum of Art during the solo rounds.
Watch the Competition website, for complete details and scheduling information.