The Honens International Piano Competition, held every three years in Calgary, Canada, has announced numerous strategic enhancements to be implemented for the October 2012 competition. Among the changes: professionally managed pianists are no longer eligible to compete; the reduction of the competition length from sixteen days to ten days; the addition of two professional arts journalist interviews to the process, to encourage musicians to become effective communicators; changes in the composition of the competition jury, with seven actively touring pianists now joined by a conductor, a record executive, and a concert presenter; and the addition of a mentor-in-residence program, through which an actively touring pianist will provide feedback to pianists during the competition’s final week. One pianist, rather than three pianists, will be named the competition’s laureate of the competition’s Artistic & Career Development Program, receiving the full CAN$500,000 prize. More information on the changes can be found at the Honens website.
Posted February 4, 2011
