Kirov Academy Announces Live Public Premiere of the 2020 Final Competition Round
KIROV ACADEMY ANNOUNCES LIVE PUBLIC PREMIERE OF THE 2020 FINAL COMPETITION ROUND OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL JUNIOR E-PIANO COMPETITION FEATURING STEINWAY’S SPIRIO PIANO FOLLOWED BY THE AWARDS CEREMONY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2020,
Watch Live-Stream starting at 10:00 AM – EST
Washington, D.C. (November 7th, 2020) – The Kirov Academy is pleased to invite you to attend the live premiere performance of the Final Round of the world’s first Virtual International Junior E-Piano Competition on Saturday, November 7th, 2020, beginning at 10:00 AM – EST. This year’s international piano competition featured the Steinway Spirio Piano, the world’s most technologically advanced high-resolution playback system. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, 80 contestants from 15 different countries participated, including Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Russian and of the United States.
The 2020 Kirov International Junior E-Piano Competition took place between August 24th through October 24th. A total of 12 Finalists selected from both the Junior Division (up to age 13) and the Young Artist Division (ages 14-17) competed remotely – via the Spirio Piano – from cities around the world straight to the live jury panel in Washington, D.C. Three final winners were selected from each division. The two 1st Place Winners were from Japan (Ms. Shiraishi Momone,12-years /Junior Division) and South Korea (Ms. Yunsun Shin, 14-years / Young Artist Division). The 1st Place Winners of each Division received two Steinway Artist Grants ($2,000), an Embassy Series Debut Concert and the top three winners of each division were awarded a Recital at the world-renowned Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to take place during the Summer of 2021. The 2nd and 3rd Place Winners from the Junior Division included: Matthew Chang (11), United States; and Lee Hyo (13), South Korea; and, from the Young Artist Division: Elizabeth Zhang (16), Canada; and, Edward Zhang (17), United States.
All winners, including 6 contestants who received Honorable Mention Awards, received scholarships to attend the Kirov 2021 Summer Music Festival and have the opportunity to take online private lessons with world-renowned teachers and artists. Student contestants also competed for the newly established Raymond T. Jackson Scholarship Prize for Young Gifted and Talented African American Pianists ($2,000) to attend the 2021 Summer Music Festival in Washington, D.C. This year’s winner was Damien Mackel, Jr., (15-years/Young Artist Division) from the United States/Maryland.
Kirov Academy is delighted to have partnered with Steinway and Sons, The Embassy Series and the Cosmos Corporation of Steinway Korea, to present the 2020 International Virtual E-Piano Competition to offer young pianists the opportunity to continue performing and to share their talent and passion for music with the world even during this difficult and historic time of a global pandemic.
To access the November 7th, 2020 world premiere of the Final Round of the Kirov 2020 International Junior E-Piano Competition performance, followed by the Awards Ceremony, go to one of the following link(s):
https://www.youtube.com/user/KirovAcademyDC
For additional information about the Kirov 2020 International Junior E-Piano Competition, all Winners and Steinway’s Spirio Piano see:
PRESS CONTACTS:
For additional information, interviews, photos, winner’s biographies & other promotional materials or details about Steinway Music Spirio Piano contact:
Dr. Yesook Suh, 2020 Kirov Competition Co-Chair and Director, Gifted & Talented Music Program at ysuh@kabdc.org or, Tel: 1-202-486-7004
Anne L. Howard-Tristani, Advisory Board Member, Kirov 2020 International Piano Competition @ alhowardtristani63md@gmail.com ; Tel: 1-787-366-1770
