103 accepted applicants revealed

　In excited anticipation of the opening of the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition on November 8, the names of 103 contestants who were accepted after the preliminary selection in June have been revealed. Yasutomo Suzuki, mayor of Hamamatsu City, Hiroko Nakamura, Chairperson of the Jury, and Bin Ebisawa, Chairperson of the Management Committee, attended the press conference to make the announcement. With a steady track record of constantly producing fine pianists who are active worldwide, the Hamamatsu Competition is coming again this year attracting world’s attention.

　The 103 contestants were selected from among 228 applicants from 26 countries and 1 region who applied during the period from February to March this year. This year, the preliminary selection was conducted based on the performance video on DVD for the first time in the history of the competition. The Competition has accepted a wide variety of contestants: they are from 23 countries and 1 region, and their ages range from 13 -- the youngest in the competition’s history -- to 28.
　The Opening Concert will feature Alexej Gorlatch. The performance of the 1st prize winner of the previous Competition will certainly add to the excitement of the event. Gorlatch won the 1st prize in the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition in May this year, which was a remarkable feat to yet again prove the legend, “the prizewinners of the Hamamatsu Competition win the 1st prize in subsequent major competitions.” Indeed, Gorlatch followed the path of the brilliant achievements accomplished by Alexander Gavrylyuk, Ayako Uehara, Rafał Blechacz and Alexander Kobrin.
　Tickets for different stages and events as well as the Competition Package Pass covering all the stages and events plus the Opening Concert have been on sale since August 1st. Like in the 6th Competition, the contestants’ performances will be available all over the world as free streaming video.
　The competition offering opportunities to young talent is attracting attention not only from within Japan but also from all over the world: this is where a new star is born.

Hiroko Nakamura (Chairperson of the Jury)
“This triennial competition has been the opportunity to feel the drastic changes happening around the world, especially in the period from the 1990s through the 21st century. The changes in the world’s economic and social environment have had significant influence on the piano world as well, which is seen in the trend where Asian pianists are gaining more presence. Under such circumstances, I’m very much interested to see what type of pianists we will have this year.
　I have been involved in the Competition since 1994 as a member and the chairperson of the Jury. I think the Hamamatsu Competition has been fortunate in attracting so many wonderful young pianists; we have offered unknown newcomers the opportunity to gain great attention and to launch out into the world. I’m looking forward to the performances of the contestants, among whom we can hopefully discover “the fresh talent we have waited for.” I very much hope that many people will come and see their performances.”

Yasutomo Suzuki (Mayor of Hamamatsu City)
“This year we are going to host the 7th Hamamatsu Competition, which has come a long way to be recognized as an international competition. The city has been carrying out various projects with a view to shifting its image from the city of musical instruments to “Hamamatsu: the City of Music,” and the Hamamatsu Competition is the central event in the series of such projects. For Hamamatsu, 2009 is the year of big events: we will be hosting “Hamamatsu International Mosaiculture 2009” concurrently with the Competition. I hope these two events will be implemented successfully through effective interaction and collaboration.”

Bin Ebisawa (Musicologist)
“I was a Jury member in the 5th Competition and have been serving as the chairperson of the Management Committee since the previous Competition to ensure smooth and successful operation of the Competition. This year, the Competition will be held concurrently with the flower festival, “Hamamatsu International Mosaiculture 2009,” creating a harmony between the natural flowers and music as the flower of the arts. I’m looking forward to making my contribution to the successful operation of the Competition.”