BRINGING PIANO TO THE PEOPLE: THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION’S EVOLUTION TO PIANO+

It’s one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world, and now The Sydney International Piano Competition is about to spread its wings even further.

Commcentric hosted dozens of corporate VIPs to watch the finals at the Sydney Opera House this past week, involving 6 finalists over two nights – all vying for the coveted $50,000 dollar first prize.

The six finalists, who all hail from far flung corners of the globe, performed an 18th-century (or earlier) concerto and a 19th or 20th-century concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Conductors Umberto Clerici and Benjamin Northey.

The group was narrowed down from a slightly larger selection of 32 of the world’s finest young pianists, who travelled to Australia especially for the competition.

In the end though, it was the young and talented Jeonghwan Kim who took home first prize; announced at the final event on Saturday night.

Originally born in South Korea, the talented musician began playing the piano aged 6, and at the age of 11 relocated to Berlin to further his musical career.

“We have a very complete pianist and artist – quite extraordinary for a young man who turned 23 during the competition. His virtuosity is astounding, his accuracy in the most complex passages, breathtaking,” said Australian classical pianist Piers Lane, AO.

Kim will begin his national tour of the country performing his Winner’s recital across most of the nation’s capitals, among a string of overseas engagements.

For audience members, in addition to being dazzled by the world-class skills on show, the events also offered an inside glimpse into the future direction of the brand, with Chief Executive of The Sydney International Piano Competition, Marcus Barker unveiling his vision for the future and new master brand called Piano+.

“The Sydney has a fruitful history but after 50 years this is time for a new take on our famous piano competition,” said Mr Barker.

“Piano+ will be much bigger than a competition. This is about bringing piano to thepeople, and we’ll be doing that in a wide variety of ways through an action-packed calendar of unique events across Australia this 2023/2024 calendar year,” he said.

While Piano+ will continue to foster the joy of piano playing nationally, it’ll also expand its focus to include a major educational component, encouraging and supporting new talent to join the ranks and hone their skills.

Commcentric is delighted to be supporting Piano+ during this exciting brand evolution, which is built on the foundations of the former 50-year-old Sydney International Piano Competition (The Sydney).

With the doors now officially open to new corporate partners, Commcentric invites any organisation with an interest in supporting the Australian arts scene and investing in our country’s talented pianists, to get in touch.

There are a myriad of opportunities available to those who partner with us, including live world-class and intimate performances for engaging staff or clients, plus the chance to champion the musical community who rely on support from organisations like yours.

All sponsors will have an opportunity to receive a bespoke sponsorship package to meet your brand’s objectives, whether through interactive activations, branded merchandise, or VIP experiences like those mentioned above.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact us below:

T: (02) 8606 3122
E: info@commcentric.com.au

To view the full list of competition winners and Kim’s upcoming national tour dates and locations, head to: www.pianoplus.com.au