Fumiya Koido, winner of the last Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition in 2019, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

After three-year absence, piano competition prepares its return

The pieces are falling into place for Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, which begins this month. Fifty young pianists will contest the £15,000 first prize, the jury has been chosen and a graduate orchestra established in partnership with the Royal College of Music will make its debut during the semi-finals. Nick Terdre reports.

Fifty young pianists have been invited to participate in the 16^th edition of Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, which takes place from Thursday 24 February to Saturday 5 March. They were selected from 360 applicants from more than 40 countries through a process of video auditions.

The 50 participants will be whittled down over two preliminary stages to 12 semi-finalists and then six finalists, who will each play a full concerto accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. A £15,000 prize awaits the winner, along with the prestige of the title and opportunities for performing with leading orchestras.

Sylvia Jiang, one of the 2019 finalists (photo: John Cole).

The competition is making a welcome return after a three-year absence. It was last held in 2019, after which it moved onto a two-year cycle, but had to be cancelled last year due to Covid.

For the first time part of the competition, organised by Hastings International Piano, will be partly held in Rye, with the stage one sessions taking place at the Rye Creative Centre. The remainder of the competition will be held as usual at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings.

Another new feature is that the 12 semi-finalists, who will also play a full concerto, will be accompanied by a new orchestra. This is the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra, newly formed under a partnership between the college and Hastings International Piano and consisting of college graduates. Dr Donatus, Prince Von Hohenzollern, has been appointed patron and will attend the inaugural performances. Further opportunities for performance will be provided for the orchestra, which will be administered by Hastings International Piano.

International jury

A seven-strong international jury has been appointed to judge the competition. In addition to its president, Prof Vanessa Latarche, head of piano at the Royal College of Music, they are:

• Paul Hughes (UK), director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra
• Aisa Ijiri (Japan), international pianist and Steinway Artist
• Stanislav Ioudenitch(USA)—winner of the Gold Medal at Van Cliburn Piano Competition
• Diana Ketler (Latvia) pianist, festival director and professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music
• Scott Dunn (USA), conductor, pianist and composer, and
• Anthony Byrne (Ireland) international pianist and professor of piano at The Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Steinway & Sons will again be the piano sponsor.

“After the long wait, we are all looking forward to the upcoming Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition with great excitement,” said Prof Latarche. “I am thrilled that my distinguished colleagues from around the world are able to be with me on the jury for what promises to be a spectacular event. We have much to celebrate in the live music-making of our brilliant young pianists, and I look forward to seeing you there in person.”

“We are ready to welcome the world to both Rye and Hastings this year in two wonderful venues, Rye Creative Centre and the White Rock Theatre, in which exceptional music performances will be given,” said Ian Roberts, managing director of Hastings International Piano.

“It’s thrilling to be able to present our audiences two orchestras during this competition, and also host a jury of some of the world’s most respected artists and professors, led by our eminent president of the jury, Prof Latarche.”

Performances will be live-streamed on the company website, he said.

More information from Hastings International Piano website. Tickets for all sessions are available from White Rock Theatre box office or website.

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