Single Tickets on Sale Now!
More than 320 pianists from 38 countries applied to compete in the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition, promising an absolutely incredible level of talent. A 5-member screening jury will review the applications and performance videos of all 320 applicants in early April, ultimately inviting 27 to 30 pianists to participate. Watch your inbox for the announcement in early May!
Those who have attended past competitions will notice an immediate change to the format this year. While the first, second, and semi-final rounds will remain the same, the final round will now consist of two phases. Four finalists will perform chamber music with the Escher String Quartet, then move on to concerto performances with The Cleveland Orchestra with Bramwell Tovey conducting. This exciting new addition is made possible through the generous support of Zoya and Michael Reyzis, long time supporters of the CIPC.
Competition performances will be held July 25 through August 6. The first, second, and semi-final rounds, as well as the chamber music phase of the final round, will be held in Gartner Auditorium at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The concerto phase of the final round will be held in Severance Hall.
Tickets to individual competition rounds, as well as the guest artist concerts and special events described below, are now on sale. They can be purchased online at clevelandpiano.org, or by phone at 216-707-5397, Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Plan early for the best seats!
Thought-Provoking Film Series to Showcase the World of Piano Music
Virtuoso pianist Martha Argerich takes center stage at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2 with a screening of Argerich, a film created by her daughter Stéphanie. Ms. Argerich follows her famous mother through public concerts and private moments, revealing the challenges of a family that has lived in the glare of the international stage.
The music and life of piano phenom Daniil Trifonov will be brought to life at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, August 3 with The Magics of Music, an award-winning film by Christopher Nupen. Interviews and concert footage are film highlights.
Cleveland-based pianist, writer, and producer Zsolt Bognár will host presentations of his “Living the Classical Life” film series at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 27 and Friday, July 29. The first will be a world premiere screening showcasing world-renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman; the second will focus on pianist/composer Stephen Hough and pianist Marc-André Hamelin. Mr. Bognár will answer audience questions after the films.
CIPC Festival Returns as Highlight of 2016 Competion
Since 2013, when the Cleveland International Piano Competition moved the solo rounds to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the event has included the CIPC Festival, a series of events designed to enrich the competition for everyone. We’re pleased to announce that the festival is back for 2016, bigger and better than ever with an amazing array of events being held in four different venues. Details are outlined throughout the blog.
CIPC President and CEO Named "Key Influencer"
CIPC is proud to announce that President and CEO Pierre van der Westhuizen has been named one of Musical America's Key Industry Influencers in its Professionals of the Year Special Report. Their profile on Dr. van der Westhuizen, can be read HERE.
Each year, the Musical America Professionals of the Year are the performing arts industry's best-known and most prestigious innovators and market shakers. Van der Westhuizen was selected over hundreds of nominees based on the following criteria:
Who wields the most influence in the business? Who has had/is having the most influence on how you make professional decisions? A top executive at an opera company? An artist manager? A blogger or someone with a huge social media following? When they speak, we listen.
Musical America has been the voice of the performing arts industry worldwide for more than 100 years. It provides in-depth coverage of performing arts news, special reports, and information vital to performing artists, facilities, managers, presenters, and virtually anyone involved in the performing arts. Learn more musicalamerica.com.
PianoKids Brings Music to Cleveland’s Schools
CIPC’s ArtsConnect program, working in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, has launched PianoKids, a new music outreach project that is bringing top-tier, professional artists to Cleveland students who have limited access to concert performances.
Ten Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools are participating in the 2015/16 PianoKids program, which is being sponsored by PNC Bank. Approximately 1,200 children in grades pre-K and K will experience live performances, musical storytelling, and hands-on learning with three musicians and their instruments. Each school will receive two visits during the school year: one in the late fall to introduce musical concepts, and one in the spring to build on what they have learned.
Andris Koh (cello); Aniela Eddy (violin); and Natsumi Shibagaki (piano) will work with the children at the ten schools. All three are well-established teachers of young musicians in the city and have been involved with ArtsConnect for several years. “Andris, Aniela, and Natsumi are ideally suited for the PianoKids program,” said Sophié van der Westhuizen, Director of ArtsConnect. “They have a wonderful ability to connect with children and make the music fun and child-friendly.”
Allison Wallace, Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, has served as the project’s liaison with the School District, helping to identify the participating schools and organize the visits. “ArtsConnect and the Neighborhood Centers Association have worked together on several projects,” Ms. van der Westhuizen said. “It’s a wonderful partnership that we hope will continue to bring high quality music education to the city’s children for many years to come.”
Mixon First Prize Increased to $75,000 for 2016 CIPC
Thanks to the generosity of long time patrons Mal and Barbara Mixon, the first prize winner of the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition will receive a cash award of $75,000. This is increased from the $50,000 the Mixons had been donating for many years.
The substantial cash award makes CIPC extremely attractive to potential contestants, as do the additional first prize awards, which include a New York recital performance, a CD recording on the Steinway & Sons label, and three years of concert management. By virtue of becoming a finalist, the winner also performs in the final round with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Escher String Quartet, which are experiences coveted by any pianist.
CIPC is extremely grateful to the Mixons, and to all of our patrons, for their ongoing support.
Final Round Expanded to Include Chamber Music
The final round of the Cleveland International Piano Competition has been expanded to include chamber music performances, providing another opportunity for the finalists to demonstrate their skills and for audience members to enjoy the amazing talent of these artists. The finalists will select one of four piano quintets (Brahms, Dvorak, Franck, and Schumann) and perform with the acclaimed Escher String Quartet. This additional phase will be held over a two-night period before the concerto performances with The Cleveland Orchestra.
This exciting new addition to the CIPC is made possible through the generous support of Michael and Zoya Reyzis, founders and owners of Art of Beauty, the company behind ZOYA Nail Lacquers and other professional beauty products. Mr. and Mrs. Reyzis are long time supporters of the CIPC who love piano music and chamber music in equal measure. With the new “Zoya Reyzis Chamber Round” at the Cleveland International Piano Competition, two of their favorite things will now be joined in spectacular fashion.Read more
Grammy® Winner Bramwell Tovey to Conduct Final Round at 2016 CIPC
Bramwell Tovey, Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 2000, will conduct The Cleveland Orchestra for the final round of the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition (CIPC). Mr. Tovey also is Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and founding host and conductor of the New York Philharmonic’s Summertime Classics series.
“We are delighted that Mr. Tovey and The Cleveland Orchestra will partner for our final round,” said CIPC President and CEO Pierre van der Westhuizen. “The synergy created by a world class orchestra and conductor, our incredibly talented contestants, and the beauty of Severance Hall is something that continually astonishes our audiences.”Read more
Schedule announced, tickets on sale for 2016 CIPC
The 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition and Festival will be nothing short of a feast for keyboard fans. Dedicated to “Celebrating the Art of Piano,” the marathon event will be held over 15 days in five venues, encompassing competition performances, guest artist concerts, films, discussion groups, an opening night concert and party, and a final night gala. Mark your calendar now for July 24 through August 7 and click HERE to view the full schedule.
Two types of advance-purchase ticket packages are now on sale. Both packages offer preferred seating for all competition performances and a significant savings over single ticket pricing. Plus this year’s event is bigger than ever, with 2 more days, 4 more festival events, and chamber music performances added to the final round!
CIPC partners with medici.tv and WVIZ ideastream for first-time final round webcast
One of the highlights of the Cleveland International Piano Competition – the final round performances with The Cleveland Orchestra – will be webcast for the first time in 2016. CIPC will work with WVIZ/PBS ideastream, Cleveland’s PBS affiliate, to produce the programming.
While the solo rounds have been webcast for many years, 2016 marks the first time viewers will be able to watch on computers or mobile devices as the four finalists perform in Severance Hall. The stream will be available live at clevelandpiano.org, wviz.ideastream.org, or on a short delay at medici.tv, the largest online platform for classical music streaming and archiving. For those who miss the live webcast, medici.tv will archive the content for 90 days.Read more