VIII International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition
On November 8, 2019, the VIII International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition starts at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. The event to be held until November 17 is one of oldest and most important music performers competitions in Lithuania.
According to the Rector of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre Prof. Zbignevas Ibelgauptas: “International Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition is an important and meaningful event in the developmental processes of Lithuanian culture. Every time this competition becomes the lively international gathering of pianists and organists of younger generation, whereas in front of the audience masters of future are born.”
The VIII International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition brought together 54 participants. There are 31 pianists under the age of 30 from 14 countries (Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine) and 23 organists under the age of 35 from 13 countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA).
Organists rounds take place on November 8–17 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Vilnius, the Church of St. Casimir and St. Francis Church in Klaipėda (1st round, 2nd round, Final, Laureate’s concert, Award ceremony). Jury: Andrzej Chorosiński – chairman (Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, Poland), Leopoldas Digrys (professor emeritus of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre), Christophe Mantoux (PSPBB, Conservatoire régional of Paris, France), Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur (LMTA), Leonidas Melnikas (LMTA, Head of the Department of Organ and Harpsichord), Martin Sander (Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Hochschule für Musik in Basel, Germany/Switzeralnd), Juan Paradell Solé (titular organist of the Sistine Musical Pontifical Chapel Choir, Italy).
Moments from the organist opening ceremony and drawing of lots.
Pianists rounds take place on November 9–17 in the Great Hall of LMTA and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (1st round, 2nd round, Final: Part 1, Part 2, Award ceremony). Jury: Ian Fountain – chairman (Royal Academy of Music in London, UK), Pier Francesco Forlenza (Como Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, Italy), Petras Geniušas (LMTA), Ilja Ivari (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), Juris Kalnciems (professor emeritus of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music), Jurgis Karnavičius (LMTA, Head of the Piano Department), Roland Krüger (Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, Germany).
The first M. K. Čiurlionis Piano Competition held in 1965. In 1968, organists were included in the competition; and in 1991, after Lithuania regained its independence, the path was opened for the first international competition. In 1994 the International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano and Organ Competition was accepted as a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions in Geneva.
The official website of the M. K. Čiurlionis Competition: www.ciurlionis.link. Organisers: PI Natų knygynas, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, main supporters – Lithuanian Council for Culture, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Competition is under Patronage of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.
Beata Baublinskienė
LMTA info / 2019 11 07