Finalists selected in e-piano competition

July 9, 2014

University Relations

Alexey Chernov, Frank Dupree, Peter Friis Johansson, Marianna Prjevalskaya and Chen Guang, finalists of the Alaska International Piano-e-Competition, will perform with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra on July 10 and 11. One of these finalists will be declared the winner at the Award Ceremony July 12. Photo by Stella Sick.
Alexey Chernov, Frank Dupree, Peter Friis Johansson, Marianna Prjevalskaya and Chen Guang, finalists of the Alaska International Piano-e-Competition, will perform with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra on July 10 and 11. One of these finalists will be declared the winner at the Award Ceremony July 12. Photo by Stella Sick.


Kirsten Pickard
907-474-2417
07/09/14
After three grueling rounds of performance, tensions are running high as the five finalists of the Alaska International Piano-e-Competition proceed to the final round in the Davis Concert Hall at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

In the final round, each finalist will perform a full piano concerto with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra on the evenings of July 10 and 11. Works by Brahms and Beethoven will be featured.

The finalists hail from all corners of the globe, each bringing individual charms and a unique style of performance.

The final awards ceremony and concert on July 12 will reveal the winner of the competition, feature Disklavier-played reproductions of performances by the runners-up and culminate with the first-prize winner taking the stage to perform again with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra.

Leading up to the awards, the final round of competition will provide two full nights of world-class musical performances directed by Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra Conductor Eduard Zilberkant.

The final round of competition will take place in the following order and feature these musical works:

Thursday, July 10


Chen Guang, China/Italy
Beethoven, "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58"


Marianna Prjevalskaya, Spain
Brahms, "Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15"


Peter Friis Johansson, Denmark/Sweden
Beethoven, "Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, 'Emperor'”



Friday, July 11


Frank Dupree, Germany
Brahms, "Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83"


Alexey Chernov, Russia
Brahms, "Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15"



Awards ceremony


One concerto from the final round of competition will be featured in live performance with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra on July 12, but, until the winner is announced, the competitors, orchestra and audience will know neither which performer will be featured nor which piece will be played.

The winner will receive $30,000 in prize money and be scheduled for performances in Chicago and New York. The winner also will return to Fairbanks to perform with the symphony during its 2014-2015 season.

For the runners-up, a recording of a previous performance at the competition will be recreated on the Yamaha Disklavier, precisely as the competitor played it on that day.

Tickets


Performances for the final round and the award ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. nightly July 10-12 at the Davis Concert Hall on the Fairbanks campus. People planning to attend should be sure to arrive early, especially if purchasing tickets or commemorative programs at the door.  Tickets to the last three evenings of performance can be purchased at the door or in advance at uaf.edu/piano.  Tickets cost $40 for adults, and $36 for children, seniors and active duty military. Commemorative programs can be purchased on site for $20.