Event to attract top pianists

The Kerikeri National Piano Competition is seen as the most prestigious piano competition in New Zealand, thanks to the local community.

Members of the community and musicians from the Far North are helping with the four-day event, expected to draw the crème de la crème of musicians from New Zealand and the Pacific rim.

The event runs from July 1 to 4 at The Centre, Kerikeri.

Businesses and private benefactors from Kerikeri and elsewhere have contributed to a significant prize-pool.

The Kerikeri National Piano Competition Trust hopes that further support through donations will be forthcoming to cover the many costs involved in staging the event.

Competitors will vie for total prizes of $25,000, with the winner receiving $12,000, second $6000 and third $3000. There are additional prizes of $2000 for the best sonata performance, and $1000 each for the encouragement and people’s choice awards.

The competition is open to pianists of any nationality who are under 30 years as of June 30.

Already, interest has been expressed from musicians, both nationally and internationally.

Event organiser John Jackets is delighted such support has been given to the competition.

"To say we’re over the moon is an understatement," says Mr Jackets, a former international events co-ordinator and currently musical director of the Bay of Islands Singers.

"This is a significant prize-pool in terms of an international competition. It allows us to invite the very best young musicians in our part of the world to consider competing.

"We hope the residents of Kerikeri and their friends will turn out to support this major event on the music calendar. We also wish to encourage audiences from further afield to enjoy the many other delights that the Bay of Islands has to offer."

Mr Jackets likens the competition to the Olympics of the piano. The preparation, both mental and physical, is extremely demanding. All music must be performed from memory, a feat in itself. The selection of repertoire must include a major classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert, a 30-minute recital and, for the finalists, a 45-minute programme

"That’s the incredible part of the challenge," says Mr Jackets.

"It’s the magic of youth. To be able to play these great works for solo piano from memory is amazing."

Tickets to the four-day event will go on sale at The Centre in May.

This year’s judge will be award-winning pianist Albert Tiu from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore.

Mr Tiu has won major international piano competitions, including the first prize in the UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa and the Juilliard William Petschek Award, which resulted in his highly-acclaimed New York debut recital in Alice Tully Hall.

His performing career has taken him to five continents where he has appeared as a soloist with many major orchestras.

In addition to adjudicating the competition, Mr Tiu will also give a recital on the opening day of the four-day event and a master class for selected non-finalists on Sunday morning which is open to the public.

For those wanting to know more about the competition, go to www.knpc.org.nz.

The Kerikeri National Piano Competition committee includes: Trust chairman Tony Norman is chairman of Far North Holdings and the Far North District Health Board. Sally Macauley is deputy mayor of the Far North District Council and a member of the Northland District Health Board. Jill Cottle is a highly respected piano teacher. Janet Morrison an accountant. Iain Morrison is a vineyard operator. Sylvia Burch has a background in education and project management. John Jackets has a background in concert event management in New Zealand and Asia and is musical director of Bay of Islands Singers. Jane Jackets has a background in education. Patrick Connell is a promoter and distributor of Lloyd Webber events in Asia, Australia and NZ. Patron of the competition is New Zealand concert pianist Michael Houstoun.

- © Fairfax NZ News