scotland welcomes the world's finest young pianists

For eleven days in September 2007, the city of Glasgow will play host to the world’s most gifted young pianists. These aspiring soloists will have come from around the world to win prizes worth more than £25,000 and the recognition that could set them on the road to a successful international career.

an international festival of music

This year, several hundred young pianists, from such diverse countries as Australia, Belarus, China, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, UK, USA and Uzbekistan applied to take part in this unique festival of music. The SIPC Music Committee was extremely impressed by the high calibre of the applicants which in turn made the selection process even more arduous. After lengthy consideration forty applicants were chosen to display their creativity and musical mastery in front of our international Jury of world-acclaimed musicians, chaired by John Wallace, Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.  This select forty will be competing not only for a place in the Final and for the top prizes on offer but most importantly for the public and professional recognition that will carry them further along the road to a successful international career.

These are just some of the ingredients that have established the Scottish International Piano Competition as one of the leading events in the international concert calendar.

a world renowned jury,orchestra and conductor

The Jury of distinguished musicians, chaired by John Wallace, one of Britain’s foremost instrumentalists and Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, will judge the competitors.

The music of the world’s great composers will be interpreted by this new generation of pianists at the initial rounds in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama – all open to the public.

During the first 4 days of the competition each pianist will give a 25-minute recital at the RSAMD. Twelve musicians will then proceed to the semi-final, each giving a 55-minute recital. Only four will go forward to the dramatic final before a capacity audience in the City Halls Glasgow on September 15, 2007

Each will play a concerto of their choice with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under its renowned former principal conductor James Loughran in the newly refurbished City Halls.