The contestants who challenge the final stage were announced from 9:30 PM, Nov. 19. All of the juries were in presence to make the announcement while thirteen contestants who performed in the third stage were waiting in the front row. Before announcing the names, NAKAMURA, the chairperson of the jury said, "Those who are performing in the final stage were chosen immediately. However, it does not mean those who are not were very behind. They performed very well." Then the result was released.

It was the last day of the third stage. The hall was almost full from the morning with 1,800 audiences. The second floor, which was reserved for the juries originally, was also released for the audiences. The secretariat excitedly said, "It shows this competition has been taken root here in Hamamatsu."
About 150 citizens stayed in the hall to find out the results. When the first chosen contestant BLECHACZ was announced, they spontaneously let out a cheer and photoflash surrounded him. When SUZUKI and SEKIMOTO found out their good news, they shook hands firmly and praised each other.

When SUDO's name was announced, huge roar of applause was burst. Including her, three Japanese contestants are to move onto the next stage to show Japanese contestants improvement.

A press conference with NAKAMURA and six contestants was held after the announcement. NAKAMURA gave her comment and each contestant expressed aspirations.

The final stage will be held on the 22nd and the 23rd. Three contestants will be performing each day. The repertoires are to be chosen among concertos of 12 composers including Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rakhmaninov and Prokofiev. The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra will be performing with them.


Press Conference comment
Rafal BLECHACZ
"I am very happy and satisfied. I will try to express my ability fully in the final stage. I am also satisfied with the opportunities and facility to practice and the way things are dealt here. Secretariats and volunteers are nice and helping me. I am planning to continue what I am doing currently with patience and hope to be a pianist who can give audiences happiness."

SUZUKI Hironao
"I am very surprised. My performance went over time in the second stage, so I was very much worried that could possibly be a reason not to be able to go to the final stage. Regarding my performance, I thought I could do better for some parts, but it seems like the juries discovered the good parts of it. I would like to perform everything I have established."

OKAMOTO Shohei
"I am very happy that I have opportunities to perform every piece I have prepared, the whole 3-hour program. Tchaikovsky is my choice of the final stage and I hope to enjoy my performance. I hope the audiences can feel my feelings too."

Sergei SALOV
"I would like to show my appreciation towards my friends and audiences who supported me in Hamamatsu. The piece I am performing, Concerto No.1 in b flat minor op.23 of Tchaikovsky has been played many times all over the world. I would like to deliver my way of performing to as many people as possible. I would like to perform with a fresh mind."

SUDO Rina
"I did not expect I would be chosen, so I am very happy. I will be playing a piece of Prokofiev in the final stage, which I will try to enjoy. In my future, I would like to create music both audiences and I can enjoy together."

Alexander KOBRIN
"I am truly happy. I could not perform as I hoped in the third stage, so I am hoping to make the final stage with Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rakhmaninov my best one. I am a bit nervous, but will try to do my best for those who support me."

The last six contestants attended the press conference with NAKAMURA, the chairperson of the juries. Their faces showed the happiness of achievement in their way. BLECHACZ stayed cool while SEKIMOTO honestly showed his happiness on his face. KOBRIN seemed confident while the eyes of SUDO had tears of joy.

"This announcement is being made with excitement of the third stage. It is very rare to have many high level contestants in a competition. The juries feel this experience is precious," said NAKAMURA. She continued giving more comments on the third stage, "The chosen contestants expressed their individual characteristics and personalities. We could feel their deep feeling and self-devotion toward music. We are especially impressed with young contestants' techniques."

Following NAKAMURA's comment, each contestant expressed his or her aspirations. When SALOV expressed his appreciation toward the audiences, they gave him a lot of applause.

NAKAMURA also gave each contestant her feedback. "He is a nonesuch found in an audition in Vienna," she said praising BLECHACZ. About SUDO, she said, "She always performs very well in Hamamatsu Academy, so I hope she does the same in the final stage." NAKAMURA also said, commenting on KOBRIN, "When I participated as a jury in the Chopin International Piano Competition, I was very impressed with him, but he is even better."

When asked about three Japanese contestants, she said, "I am very impressed with the level of Japanese contestants. Their talent and skills are in the foremost rank. Regarding the final stage starting on the 22nd, she said, "We can enjoy various great pieces in such a short time. The audiences can enjoy this event as a concert rather a competition."

There were more than 100 audiences who came for the press conference. One of them went to talk to NAKAMURA to thank her for the great event. A high school student of Hamamatsu city commented on the popular music event saying, "This competition has become well known in the world and many famous pianists are participating the event. I am practicing the piano, so this is a great experience for me." An audience in her 30s said, "I am impressed to find out that three Japanese contestants are going to the final. It shows the improvement of Japanese pianists."

Comments of Contestants
SEKIMOTO Shohei
"I could not fit in the atmosphere, so I could not focus on my performance. If I grade my performance, it would be about 50-60 in a hundred. I felt fear during my performance, therefore a lack of confidence made me force to play, which resulted an unnatural performance. The result is important, but more importantly, I learned to be strong physically and mentally."

Tatiana KOLESOVA
"I tried everything I could. I felt pressured on the stage, and at some points, I felt that I could do better. I chose Schubert, the piece, which is a Romantic classical sonata. With this piece, I hoped to show my skills to play a classical sonata. Rakhmaninov piece was chosen because we are both Russian."

SUDO Rina
"The third stage finished very quickly. It was hard to keep the tension up. It was only 10 minutes longer than the second stage, but I felt rushed at the last part. I am satisfied because I could burn myself as a pianist on the stage. My program was built not to bore the audiences. The Hirayoshi piece, Elegy for Piano was one of the repertoires in the third competition. I think it has a profound meaning like the piece of Ichiyanagi."

Alexander KOBRIN
"I played Classical pieces in the first stage, so I chose Romantic and Impression pieces for the second and the third stages. I am not sure if the Schumann piece suits me. I find it very hard to find the "answer" hidden in the piece. There was nothing to interrupt me during the third stage, so I felt very comfortable and focused. When I heard, "Bravo!" and applause from the audiences, I felt very moved.