“The inaugural Olga Kern International Piano Competition will take place Nov. 13-20 in Albuquerque, N.M., with the Russian-born pianist and 2001 Cliburn competition co-winner serving as its artistic director and jury president,” writes Gregory Sullivan Isaacs in Wednesday’s (1/13) Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas). “The competition came about after one of Kern’s many appearances with the New Mexico Philharmonic. A conversation she had with Marian Tanau, the executive director of the orchestra, and Dr. Frederick Fiber, a local donor, revealed that they all shared an interest in advancing the musical impact of the New Mexico Philharmonic and that of the state itself…. The winner will receive a cash prize of $11,000, a professional recording and … multiple concert engagements through 2018…. The Kern competition will take place every three years. The contestants will play a series of solo recitals, and four finalists will play a concerto with the New Mexico Philharmonic.” There is a nine-person competition jury. “The 20 competitors will be announced Aug. 1.”
Posted January 15, 2016
