As the current situation did not allow the event to take place in Kyiv, the World Federation of International Music Competitions decided to support the Horowitz Competition and invited it to be held in Geneva. The Competition therefore took place from 13 to 21 April, for the first three rounds at the Salle Liszt of the Geneva Conservatoire de Musique, and then at the Victoria Hall for the Final.
Out of more than 300 candidates, 28 pianists from all over the world presented themselves before the Jury, among whom 3 pianists were selected for the Final: Julian Trevelyan, Roman Fediurko and Kyoungsun Park. The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the National Orchestra of Ukraine joined forces to accompany the three finalists that evening, under the direction of Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits. The meeting was particularly moving; the OSR had shown its support a year earlier at the start of the conflict by organising a fundraising event to help the Ukrainian Orchestra.
At the end of the evening, three main prizes were awarded to the three finalists: the youngest competitor, Roman Fediurko, born in Kiev in 2004, won the 1st Prize (gold medal) worth 20,000 francs after playing Schumann's Concerto in A minor (he also won other special prizes, including the Audience Prize and the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) Prize); Julian Trevelyan, born in Hemel Hempstead in 1998 and based in St Albans, England, won the 2nd prize (silver medal) worth 15,000 francs after playing Mozart's 23rd Concerto in A major; Kyoungsun Park, born in Seoul in 1992, won the third prize (bronze medal) worth 10,000 francs with his performance of Liszt's 1st Concerto in E-flat major (he also won the Horowitz Prize for the best performance of a virtuoso transcription by Horowitz). Bravo to them!
Founded in 1995, the Vladimir Horowitz Memorial International Competition for Young Pianists commemorates every two years the eminent Ukrainian artist and legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz, who was born and educated in Kyiv. Considered one of the great cultural institutions of Ukraine, the Horowitz Competition promotes international exchange, friendship and dialogue in a context of artistic excellence, fairness and equality.
