Thirteen pianists will be tickling the ivories as part of a major competition in Shepparton from October 7.
The young pianists from across Australia will strive to win over $76,000 in prize money as they perform in a week of solo recitals at Riverlinks Eastbank as part of the 2024 Australian National Piano Award.
Held from Monday, October 7 to Saturday, October 12, this will be the 16th biennial presentation of the award and 32 years since the first award in 1992.
The award week will feature masterpieces from the baroque and classic periods and the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as works by Australian composers.
Each award finalist will perform two solo recitals, and three adjudicators will decide on five performers to compete in the semi-final on Friday, October 11.
The three performers will play in the grand final the following evening.
This year’s award finalists are NSW residents Calvin Abdiel, 23, Jiaqi Cheng, 27, Michael de Huy, 21, Joshua Han, 22, Bowen Li, 31, Rachael Lin, 31, and Rio Xiang, 25; Victoria’s Samuel Hill, 22, Rachel Shindang, 21, and Kevin Suherman, 29; Western Australia’s Jude Holland, 21; South Australia’s Brian Luo, 23; and Queensland’s Nicolas Margarit, 25.
A 14th pianist was to compete but has had to withdraw from the awards with an injury.
While in Shepparton, each award finalist will be hosted by locals who often have access to a grand piano so the performers can practise during the week.
Award artistic director Wendy Lorenz said there was an extraordinary sense of camaraderie and mutual respect shared by the finalists during their week in Shepparton.
“This inevitably creates a unique experience both for them and for all those who attend, adding an extra dimension to the fine music making,” she said.
This year’s 2024 award adjudicators include 2008 winner Jayson Gillham, who will perform at Eastbank on October 3 in the lead-up to this year’s awards.
The other two adjudicators are Associate Professor Rae de Lisle and Dr Tamara Smolyar.
Three of the original co-founders of the awards still volunteer their time for the award, including Shepparton residents Judy Longley and Julie Tracy.
The week will start with a welcome reception at 3pm on Sunday, October 6.
Solo recitals will be held from October 7 to 10 at 1pm and 7.30pm at Eastbank.
October 11 will see the semi-final at noon at Eastbank, while there will be an award celebration dinner at 7pm at Shepparton Art Museum.
The grand final will be held on October 12 at 7pm at Eastbank, followed by the prize presentation.
Tickets for the recitals and finals are available through Riverlinks and range from $5 to $32, or you can purchase a week pass from $60 to $100.
Secondary school students can attend the solo recitals and semi-final for free.
Tickets for the celebration dinner at SAM on October 11 cost $115 and can be booked by calling Judy Longley on 0438 532 621.