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27 October 2008 18:07

Eighth Volodymyr Horowitz Memorial Young Pianists’ Competition Started in Horowitz Debut Group

October 24, 2008, Head of the Cultural Programs Department of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation Vladislav Pioro took part in the opening ceremony of the Eighth Volodymyr Horowitz Memorial Young Pianists’ Competition in the Horowitz Debut and Junior groups. The Ukraine 3000 Foundation has been co-organizing this globally renowned event since 2005.

This year’s competition, scheduled for October 24-31, will feature 98 young musicians from Ukraine, Canada, the US, China, Finland, Turkey, Costa Rica, Serbia, Russia, and Belarus. Among members of the international panel were Valery Kozlov (Ukraine, head of the panel), Valida Rassoulova - Suk (USA), Yafen Zhu (China), Lev Shugom (Russia), Paola Volpe (Italy), Frank Reich (Germany), Yuri Gildiuk (Belarus).

At the press conference, preceding the opening ceremony, Mr. Pioro stated that one of the Ukraine 3000 Foundation’s priority objectives is supporting talented youth. That’s why the Foundation traditionally co-organizes Volodymyr Horowitz Memorial, aimed at discovering and promoting young talents.

Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation Kateryna Yushchenko sent her greetings to the competition’s participants. Her address was read out by Mr. Pioro at the opening ceremony hosted by the Column Hall of the Lysenko National Philharmonics of Ukraine.

The ceremony was finished with a concert, featuring performances by the panel members. Valery Kozlov, Lev Shugom, Valida Rassoulova – Suk, and Yuri Gildiuk played the Concert for Four Pianios and the Orchestra by Johann Sebastian Bach, accompanied by the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra directed by Roman Kofman. Paola Volpi executed two sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti and some works of Robert Shuman.

The International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz was founded in 1995, initiated by the faculty of the Glier Kyiv State Musical School. Since 2002 it has been member of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth (EMCY), and since 2004 – of World Federation of International Music Competitions (WF²MC). This year the biannual EMCY General Assembly was held on the basis of the contest, becoming another evidence of the contest’s international recognition.

The Horowitz Debut Group was first included into the Horowitz Memorial in 2000. This is a competition for the youngest musicians aged under 14. The key objective for Horowitz Debut organizers is discovering little talented pianists as early as possible, to give them a chance to prove themselves and to further their professional growth.