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Montreal, May 7, 2024 — Following an extraordinary First Round, the International Jury of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) has selected the ten semifinalists of the 2024 Piano Edition. The announcement was made after jury deliberations, following the last session of this initial phase, during which the 24 young pianists dazzled the audience with their skill, virtuosity, and artistry.
Photo by Antoine Saito
The Semifinalists
Elias ACKERLEY
Michelle CANDOTTI
Antonio CHEN GUANG
Jaeden IZIK-DZURKO
Carter JOHNSON
Jakub KUSZLIK
Arisa ONODA
Anthony RATINOV
Gabriele STRATA
Derek WANG
The Semifinal will take place on May 10, 11, and 12 at Salle Bourgie. It will commence with a Chamber Music round on Friday, May 10 at 7:30 PM, followed by three recital sessions on Saturday, May 11 at 1:30 PM, then at 7:30 PM, and on Sunday, May 12 at 1:30 PM.
See the performance order and full schedule on the CMIM website.
Semifinal Requirements
During the Chamber Music round, the semifinalists will perform the first movement of a piano quartet selected from seminal works by Beethoven, Brahms, Fauré, Mozart, and Schumann.
Chantal Poulin and Shira Gilbert, Executive and Artistic Directors of the CMIM
Then, for the three sessions on May 11 and 12, the semifinalists must perform a recital of 45-50 minutes of music, to include the imposed Canadian work by Barbara Assiginaak, titled Mzizaakok Miiniwaa Mzizaakoonsak (Horseflies and Deerflies), as well as a complete sonata and at least one other piece of their choice.
Already Two Winners
Chantal Poulin and Shira Gilbert, Executive and Artistic Directors of the CMIM, took advantage of the evening of May 7 to also announce two winners of special prizes.
The nine advanced piano studies students from Montreal who formed the Junior Jury, chaired by Janelle Fung, awarded the Junior Jury Prize with a value of $1,000 to Jakub Kuslik.
Jakub Kuslik wins Junior Jury Prize
A special jury awarded the Bita-Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement Award to Élisabeth Pion. In addition to a cash prize of $2,500, Élisabeth will return to Montreal to participate in a $2,500 engagement related to a philanthropic cause.
Élisabeth Pion wins Bita-Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement Award
CMIM On the Road
Remember that the adventure continues for the 14 non-qualified pianists, as the public will have the opportunity to see them perform on other Quebec stages with CMIM On the Road, on May 8, 9, and 12 in Sorel, Île des Sœurs, and Hudson.
Follow the competition and vote for your favourite competitor
The public is invited to experience the excitement of the competition by attending the events in person (box office) or by following all rounds of the Concours, live on the CMIM website at concoursmontreal.ca. The recitals on May 11 and 12 will also be broadcast live on ICI Musique classique.
It is also possible to vote for your favorite competitor now, in person or online, via the Concours’ website: https://vote.concoursmontreal.ca/en/audience-award. The winner of the ICI Musique public prize will be announced on May 16.
On to the Final
Following the Semifinal, the jury will select six pianists to participate in the Final held at Maison symphonique on Wednesday, May 15, and Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 PM. The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal – the official orchestra of the CMIM – will accompany the six finalists, under the direction of Guest Conductor Xian Zhang. She will join the jury for the final deliberations. A total prize value of over $200,000 will be shared among the competitors in awards, grants, and engagements.
Tickets and packages
Tickets for the entire Piano 2024 Edition are available for purchase online or by phone through the Place des Arts box office. Get a ticket package for the Piano 2024 Final. To stay updated on all CMIM activities leading up to the Competition, visit https://www.concoursmontreal.ca/en/.
ABOUT THE CMIM
The Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) is a prestigious competition that showcases the international elite of the new generation of classical music. An essential rendez-vous of passion and music, in the heart of a city known for its cultural vitality and warm welcome, the CMIM enjoys an undeniable reputation worldwide. Since its inception in 2001, nearly 5,000 young virtuosi, trained in the best music schools from over 90 countries, have taken on the challenge to excel. The CMIM is more than a competition: it is a remarkable platform that highlights the excellence and pure talent of exceptional classical musicians. Our mission is to contribute concretely to the career development of participating artists by making the heart of Montreal vibrate to the rhythm of classical music, making it even more accessible to all, while forging links between the public, young artists and exceptional mentors. Together, we create unforgettable memories and propel the careers of young international musicians.
This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en:
Francais (French)
