FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2014
Cleveland International Piano Competition and Canton Symphony Partner for
Young Artists Competition
The Cleveland International Piano Competition (CIPC) and the Canton Symphony
Orchestra announced today that they will partner for the CIPC Young Artists
Competition next year. Four finalists of the competition, two in the Junior Division and
two in the Senior Division, will perform with the Orchestra under the direction of
Maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann to determine the final rankings. It is the first time the
Canton Symphony will perform in Cleveland’s University Circle area.
“This partnership presents an opportunity for young pianists to play with an outstanding
orchestra made up of top tier musicians,” said CIPC President and CEO Pierre van der
Westhuizen. “It is not only a tremendous incentive to do well in the competition, it is an
amazing learning opportunity for the pianists with the skills and confidence to make it to
the final round.”
“The Canton Symphony is very much looking forward to our collaboration with the
Cleveland International Piano Competition for the Young Artists Competition,” stated
Gerhardt Zimmermann, Music Director of the Canton Symphony Orchestra. “It is always
a joy to work with upcoming young artists, those musicians who will be the bright stars
of the next generation.”
CIPC Young Artists is an international competition for pianists ages 12 through 18. The
event will be held May 13-22, 2015 at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, with
the final round taking place in Gartner Auditorium at the Cleveland Museum of Art on
Friday, May 22, 2015. Contestants will participate in two age groups: Juniors (age 12 to
15) and Seniors (age 16 to 18).
More….
Students in each age group will perform three solo rounds and one final round with the
Canton Symphony Orchestra in front of audiences and an international jury. All
candidates will perform two rounds before the first jury vote. Six candidates from each
age group will advance to the semi-final round and two candidates from each age group
will advance to the final round.
About the CIPC
The Cleveland International Piano Competition, recognized worldwide as one of the most
respected and high profile roads to a professional career in classical music, will soon
celebrate its 40th anniversary. In these 40 years, it has grown from a competition
organized by volunteers into a multi-faceted, professionally managed organization that
presents four major programming components: The Cleveland International Piano
Competition; The CIPC Young Artists Competition; CIPC ArtsConnect; and the CIPC
Concert Series.
About the Canton Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and
organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain. Under
the direction of Gerhardt Zimmermann, the orchestra performs classical, pops, holiday,
and educational programs.
Media Links
Cleveland International Piano Competition website
Canton Symphony website
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cleveland International Piano Competition
Della Homenik, Director of Communications
[email protected] | 440-653-5005
Canton Symphony Orchestra
Irene Barker, Director of Marketing
[email protected] | 330-452-3434, ext. 610
###