The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition
When:
January 26, 2024 to February 4, 2024
Where:
Coates Chapel, UTSA Southwest Campus 300 Augusta Street, San Antonio, TX
About the Event:
Event Producer:
Musical Bridges Around the World
Elena Portnaya, Artistic Coordinator
23705 Frontage Road, Suite 101; San Antonio, TX 78257
Classical, Jazz, Latin/Spanish
Concert season
January 26 - The Gurwitz Grand Opening
A breakout event on the international stage, The Gurwitz International Piano Competition seeks to discover the next generation of top young pianists, with a unique focus on programming that bridges the art of Western classical piano music to a diversity of musical traditions from around the world. Learn more about all Gurwitz 2024 events at thegurwitz.org. Special thanks to UTSA Arts for their venue partnership of the Gurwitz Grand Opening. The Gurwitz is proudly sponsored by the Music Foundation of San Antonio, Malú and Carlos Alvarez, City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture and Global Engagement Office, and partnered with the Orquesta Filarmónica De La Ciudad De México and Gobierno De La Ciudad De México.
January 27 - 28 - Round I - The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition
FREE and Open to the Public - Tickets Required for Entry. Twelve contestants will each perform a 50-minute piano recital, with 10-minute breaks between each performance. There are no program restrictions in this round so the contestant may choose freely their repertoire. At the end of the round, 6 semifinalists are chosen to continue to Round II and a winner is selected for a $2,500 award presented by a Junior Jury of local young pianists who will judge alongside the Competition Jury during this round. Round I Schedule Day 1 – Saturday 27 January 2024 Afternoon Session: 1 PM – 4 PM (Contestants #1-3) Evening Session: 6 – 9 PM (Contestants #4-6) Day 2 – Sunday 28 January 2024 Afternoon Session: 1 PM – 4 PM (Contestants #7-9) Evening Session: 6 – 9:30/10 PM (Contestants #10-12 and Jury Deliberation/Semifinalist & Junior Jury Award Announcement)
January 30 - Round II - The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition
FREE and Open to the Public - Tickets Required for Entry. Six semifinalists will each perform a 50-minute recital that includes at least one work by a composer from their own country of origin and one work by a Latin-American or Spanish composer. At the end of the round, the jury will award one semifinalist with Best Performance of a Spanish or Latin Work and choose three finalists to continue to Rounds III and IV. Afternoon Session: 1 PM – 4 PM (Semifinalist #1-3) Evening Session: 6 – 9:30/10 PM (Semifinalist #4-6, Jury Deliberation, and Announcement of Finalists and Award Winner)
February 1 - Round III - The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition
The three (3) finalists perform a solo piano work composed after 1950 and a newly commissioned chamber music work by San Antonio composer Dr. Aaron Prado titled “El Colibrí y la Cempasúchil” (The Hummingbird and the Marigold), inspired the Aztec myth that connects to Día de los Muertos. This chamber work will be performed with an ensemble of acclaimed guest artists from the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra and leona player Vico Díaz. The audience will text-to-vote live directly following the finalist performances to choose the winner of the Audience Favorite Award!
February 2 - Marta Sánchez - The Gurwitz 2024 Featured Jazz Artist
Spanish-born pianist & composer Marta Sánchez will perform an imaginative blending of vanguard creative jazz with diverse musical traditions! This is a feature jazz event as part of The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition, a four round competition that seeks to discover the next generation of top young pianists from around the world. Learn more about all Gurwitz 2024 events at thegurwitz.org.
February 3 - Round IV - The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition
Three (3) finalist pianists each perform a full piano concerto with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra (Orquesta Filarmónica De La Ciudad De México) under the baton of Orchestra artistic director Scott Yoo, renowned violinist and host of the PBS TV series “Now Hear This”. At the end of the round, the jury will select the winners of the Gold ($30,000), Silver ($20,000), and Bronze ($10,000) Medals.
February 4 - Awards Brunch - The Gurwitz 2024 International Piano Competition Admission $125 ($25 discount per ticket when 2+ are purchased)
A celebration of the award winners of the competition with short performances by the three medalists and recognition of the 2024 competition supporters at the beautiful and historic St. Anthony Hotel.