Fumiya Koido plays his way to first prize at this year’s HIPCC (photo: John Cole).

HIPCC prizewinner returns, managing director appointed

Fumiya Koido, winner of the 2019 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, returns to Hastings for a solo performance at Fairlight Hall. Meanwhile a managing director has been appointed to bring to fruition the organiser’s ambitious plans, including the inaugural International Piano Festival next year. HIPCC reports.

Fumiya Koido returns to Hastings on Saturday 4 May for a special recital in the prizewinner’s series. This will coincide with his live performance on national radio during the In Tune programme on BBC Radio 3.

Koido won the competition in March with a stunning performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His reward was a prize of £15,000 plus future concerto performance engagements with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

New leader

Meanwhile the competition organiser has announced the appointment as managing director of Ian Roberts , who will also lead the launch of HIPCC’s 2020 International Piano Festival.

HIPCC managing director Ian Roberts.

Roberts, well-known for over 20 years’ experience in the music industry, has worked extensively in the UK and European live and recorded music sector, including almost a decade at Warner Classics and Jazz and festivals including the Reeperbahn Festival, Hop Farm Festival, the Commonwealth Games Arts Festival and Hamburg on Tour.

During his career, Roberts has supported the development of a range of music artists, venues and events, including Nicola Benedetti, Michael Kamen, Jennifer Pike, Amy Dickson, Elbphilharmonie and Chichester Cathedral Choir, and is currently a consultant to the Musicians’ Company in the City of London, and Hamburg Marketing in Germany.

One of his first acts was to appoint as general manager Hannah Deeble, previously competition and events manager, who will support him working across the competition, International Piano Festival and his portfolio of music, arts and business clients. Deeble is well-known as both a musician and arts administrator, having managed the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition and toured extensively with Tori Amos, Jools Holland and Beth Orton.

Piano festival

The 2020 International Piano Festival will celebrate the piano with a broad range of music concerts programming multi-genres, with an emphasis on world-class artists and ensembles.

“I am excited to be leading this innovative music organisation into the next stage of their development, having grown from a national piano competition to an internationally renowned event,” Roberts said.

“I am looking forward to seeing my own plans for a truly eclectic international piano festival coming to fruition, and my priority for the coming year will be to create music education opportunities, via an extensive calendar of community engagement and free and affordable tickets to young audiences.”

The 2020 Hastings International Piano Festival will take place in the last week of February and first week of March in multiple venues in and around Hastings; the programme of events will be announced in the coming months. The Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition returns in 2021 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recital by Fumiya Koido Saturday 4 May, 11pm, Fairlight Hall, Martineau Ln, Fairlight, Hastings TN35 5DR. Tickets, £15, are limited. Available online or at Hastings Tourist Information Centre, Muriel Matters House, 2 Breeds Place, Hastings TN34 3AA, tel 01424 451111.

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