WELCOME
Welcome to July’s Opus: The time has come! With the 2021 Online Competition launching this evening, we’ve chosen to keep this issue short and sweet! Rather than reading, let’s get started watching our 32 young virtuosos from 12 different nationalities, hand selected from a pool of over 285 applications, showcase their incredible musical skills.
Relax in the comfort of your own home and watch ‘on demand’ three weeks of continuous world-class piano music from now until the virtual curtain falls on the 18 July. While turbulent times continue, on the bright side, there is no better way to connect the human spirit and bring the joy of music into your homes then with this incredible broadcast event.
This years’ intense competition has allowed The Sydney to spread its joy to global audiences at a time when so many are living with COVID-19 restrictions. Most importantly, it enables the competitors to participate, despite global travel bans, providing invaluable opportunities for them to be heard and to progress their careers. One of them will soon be rocketing to world attention.
If you haven’t already got your season pass, it’s not too late. Browse our complete broadcast schedule Here > with single tickets priced from only $15. Watch and enjoy!
Book Your Tickets Here >
Join the conversations on social media | @SydneyPianoComp | #Sydneypianocomp |
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Opening Gala Concert Tonight
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Tonight at 7.30pm AEST our reigning champion and 2016 winner Andrey Gugnin will perform a spectacular Opening Night Gala concert with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, recorded in front of a live audience at the Moscow Conservatory, exclusively for The Sydney.
Andrey remembers the moment of winning the 2016 competition like yesterday, sitting on stage with the other finalists at the Sydney Opera House, the air electric. His subsequent national tour and masterclasses hosted around the country gave him a special appreciation of the way music speaks to audiences’ hearts, touching people’s lives and making a spiritual connection.
Read Andrey’s full article Here > in our free 2021 online program, overflowing with interviews, competition highlights, competitor profiles and more.
Program
Franz Liszt: Les Préludes S.97
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No.1 S.124
Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Overture)
Richard Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries
Franz Liszt/Karl Muller: Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Viewing is complimentary for all season pass holders, and since most of Australia is in lockdown at present, this concert is now available to watch with a single ticket purchase to help pass the time inside your home! Book Single Ticket Here > |
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It’s so simple and easy to watch this year’s Online Competition via your https://watch.thesydney.com.au dashboard. This is the place to go for all your important updates, contacting the team throughout the event, viewing the event schedule, buying your tickets and watching your Online Competition performances each day. To get you ready, here’s your very own step-by-step guide:
Step One: Click Here > to test your sound and video and press ‘watch now’ to see 2016 Winner Andrey Gugnin perform.
Step Two: Purchase your tickets on the same website.
Step Three: That’s it, you’re all set to go!
For further help setting up your technology requirements, click on the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) button in the top right corner of the dashboard, refer to our set-up guide on page 80 of our Online Program Here > or call our free help line on 1800 571 095.
Our team are available and on call from now, throughout the competition until the end of the broadcast on the 18 July, to ensure you don’t miss a minute of this year’s event.
Book Your Tickets Now > |
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Composing the Future – Call for Entries
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Our exciting and new Composing the Future competition, spotlighting Australian composers is open for applications. Spread the word and encourage all professional and emerging composers, young and old to submit their unpublished solo piano works by 10 December, 2021.
Pieces of any length may be submitted, ideally between 10 and 20 minutes, and may be in any style and form, such as a set of preludes, a four-movement sonata, a virtuoso transcription – or a mere bagatelle!
All entries will be judged by a panel of pre-eminent Australian pianists with the winner attracting both a substantial cash prize of $20,000 and a world premiere performance by the winner of this year’s Online Competition. In addition, up to five other entries will win a cash prize of $2,000 each, along with a public performance of their work by a jury member as part of our 45th anniversary celebrations in 2022.
Enter Here >
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Composing the Future is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through Plus1
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Wendy Weight OAM has been a supporter of The Sydney for many years and generously donates the prize for the six Semi Finalists not proceeding to the Final Round. Wendy was a teacher, running a music academy for thirty years, providing individual and group lessons in theory, song and dance and creating musical fun, even producing her own ‘Theory Can be Fun’ books.
She was introduced to The Sydney at the 2004 competition, following the death of her husband in June. Wendy says of that time that “solitude was most desirable and where better to spend it than at my first Sydney International Piano Competition. I spent two exciting weeks soaking up the marvellous atmosphere, but not having to talk to a soul.”
Following the competition, Wendy suggested to Warren Thompson the Artistic Director at the time, that she would like to support the six Semi Finalists who did not proceed to the Finals. Her prize ensures that each of these six talented musicians are awarded $1,000 in recognition of their musicality and skill.
We are grateful to Wendy for her support again in 2021 and look forward to seeing who will progress to the Semi Finals of the Online Competition! |
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| 2MBS Fine Music Sydney Stefan Kruger Scholarship |
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Apply today! Valued at $13,000, with a cash component of $8000, the Kruger scholarship assists young musicians to further their career in their chosen field of music by providing access to studio space, sound engineers as well as promotional support across all Fine Music Sydney platforms. Applications close 31 July.
More Details Here > |
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| Kawai Australia |
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Since The Sydney was inaugurated in 1977, Kawai has been front and centre. Top-tier competitions like The Sydney are part of the lifeblood of the Arts in Australia, and competitors need instruments like their handcrafted Shigeru Kawai SK-EX to perform at their highest level.
As they celebrate their own 40th anniversary in 2021, Kawai Australia is as proud as ever to be a key part of this fantastic event.
Learn More Here > |
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