We head across the pond to find out what has been happening in the world of piano
The 10th National Chopin Piano Competition set to take place this month
Chopin Foundation of the U.S © Facebook
The 10th instalment of the competition will take place in Miami-Dade County Auditorium, Florida, from 22 February – 1 March. Some 26 contestants will be competing for a $100,000 prize – the highest cash award currently out there for an American piano competition. The winner will additionally receive a concert tour of the USA and abroad, automatic entry into the XVIII International Chopin Competition in Warsaw this coming April, plus a studio recording with the Steinway & Sons record label. The second-placed winner will receive $30,000, whilst third place will win $20,000. More prize details can be found here.
The competition mainly serves as a springboard for young American talent, in the hope that the competition will help open doors to international careers.
Pianist 106 cover star Eric Lu won the competition’s last instalment back in 2015.
Annual Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) conference set to take place in Chicago this March
Marriott Hotel, Chicago © www.booking.com
The popular conference will take place at the Chicago Marriott hotel from 21-25 March. The conference brings together all those who hold an MTNA membership. There will be a series of masterclasses, technology and information sessions, and evening concerts.
Pianist Online contributor Frank Huang will this year be presenting a showcase, in which he will discuss the latest version of Beethoven Piano Sonatas to be released by G. Henle Verlag, and what is so special and unique about them.
This year will be the 136th instalment of the conference.
NAMM puts on a show in California
NAMM © Getty images
The National Association of Music Merchants took place in Anaheim, California back in January. The Pianist team were in attendance, trying out all kinds of new pianos and new software. Read our full account of the show here.
American pianist Peter Serkin dies aged 72
Peter Serkin © Kathy Chapman
The American pianist, who premiered works by Henze and Berio as well as performing the more standard fare of Bach and Beethoven, died yesterday Saturday 1 February at the age of 72.
He had been fighting pancreatic cancer for some time.
His father, Rudolf Serkin, was one of the top Beethovenians of his day, and his maternal grandfather was the influential conductor and violinist Adolf Busch.
Main image: © Getty Images