Two Share Top Prize at the 2023 Cooper International Piano Competition</h1> <article> <h1>Two Share Top Prize at the 2023 Cooper International Piano Competition</h1> <p>srasmuss — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 04:41:29 +0000</p> <span>Two Share Top Prize at the 2023 Cooper International Piano Competition</span> <span><span>srasmuss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-08-05T00:41:29-04:00" title="Saturday, August 5, 2023 - 00:41">Sat, 08/05/2023 - 00:41</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For the first time in the history of the Cooper International Competition for piano, the top prize was awarded to two participants. Pyotr Akulov and Sophia Shuya Liu were named co-champions following the Concerto Concert with The Cleveland Orchestra Friday evening.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Taige Wang</figcaption> </figure> <p>Akulov opened the concert performing Franz Liszt’s Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124. Liu followed, performing Camille Saint-Saëns' Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22. Third place winner Taige Wang ended the concert with a performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43. All three finalists performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, under the direction of David Robertson.</p> <p>Akulov (16 years old) of Moscow, Russia and Liu (14) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada each earned a $15,000 prize. Wang (13), of New York, New York, United States earned 3rd place and a $5,000 prize.</p> <p>The jury deliberated for more than 35 minutes. Robert Shannon—director, jury chair, and founder of the Cooper Competition for piano—beamed with enthusiasm and shared that this "was the best Cooper Competition ever." </p> <p>The competition’s 2023 field consisted of 19 pianists, ages 13 to 18, hailing from seven countries. They competed for four days on the campus of 91ֱ��, with the Concerto Finalists determined by Wednesday’s Concert Round.</p> <p>At Wednesday’s Concerto Round, held at Warner Concert Hall, three of the finalists were awarded fourth through sixth place: in fourth was Yanyan Bao (16), of Zhuhai, Guangdong, China; earning fifth was Andrew Sijie Li (15), of Canada, Hong Kong, and Boston, Massachusetts; and sixth place was conferred on Seoeun Lee (14), of Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea. Each received a prize of $1,500.</p> <p>In another Cooper Competition first, Filip Trifu (18), of Vienna, Austria, was awarded seventh place and he received a prize of $500. </p> <p>The 2023 Audience Prize was awarded to Akulov and came with a $500 prize.</p> <p>Founded in 2010, the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition is dedicated to presenting an important international competitive opportunity to outstanding young musicians. The competition alternates annually between piano and violin. The program was first offered in summer 2010 for pianists, followed by a 2011 competition for violinists. Open to musicians between the ages of 13 and 18, the competition culminates in a final round where the top three competitors perform a full concerto with orchestra. Cash prizes total $40,000, including a $20,000 first prize.</p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Performances of concerti by Franz Liszt and Camille Saint-Saëns with The Cleveland Orchestra receive top honors in the competition.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-08-05T12:00:00Z">Sat, 08/05/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Shelly Rasmussen</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>History was made this evening as Pyotr Akulov and Sophia Shuya Liu were both named champions for the Cooper International Competition for Piano.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2388">Cooper Competition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2387">Conservatory Summer Programs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3889">Piano</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Pyotr Akulov and Sophia Shuya Liu are co-champions of the 2023 Cooper International Competition for piano.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yevhen Gulenko</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Three Pianists selected for the Cooper Competition’s Final Round</h1> <p>srasmuss — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 02:37:46 +0000</p> <span>Three Pianists selected for the Cooper Competition’s Final Round</span> <span><span>srasmuss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-08-02T22:37:46-04:00" title="Wednesday, August 2, 2023 - 22:37">Wed, 08/02/2023 - 22:37</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The masterful performances that have graced Warner Concert Hall for the past three days culminated Wednesday evening with the selection of three pianists that have been chosen to move on to the Concerto Finals. The concert will take place this Friday, August 4 at Severance Hall in Cleveland.</p> <p>Pyotr Akulov, (16), of Moscow, Russia, Sophia Shuya Liu, (14), of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Taige Wang, (13), of New York, New York, United States have advanced to the Concerto Finals.</p> <p>On Friday, each finalist will perform with the Cleveland Orchestra, under the direction of David Robertson. Friday’s Concerto Finals will also be available via livestream. The concert will feature Liu performing Saint-Sens’ Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, Wang performing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, and Akulov performing Liszt’s Concerto #1 in E-flat Major, S. 124.</p> <p>Also honored at the announcement of the three finalists were Yanyan Bao (16 years) of Zhuhai, Guangdong, China; Andrew Sijie LI, (15), of Boston, Massachusetts, Canada, and Hong Kong; Seoeun Lee, (14), of Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea; who each earned fourth through sixth place, respectively. Each takes home a prize of $1,500. Filip Trifu, (18), of Vienna, Austria, placed seventh and received a prize of $500. </p> <p>The 2023 Audience Prize was awarded to Pyotr Akulov and comes with a prize of $500.</p> <p>Tickets for the Friday, August 4, 7:30 p.m. Severance Hall Final Concerto performance can be purchased at <a href="https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/attend/concerts-and-events/2324/other-events/cooper-piano/">Clevelandorchestra.com</a>. Tickets start at just $15 and students under 18 years old are free with a paying adult. More information can be found at the Cleveland Orchestra website or by calling 800-686-1141.</p> <p>Thursday, August 3, is the annual Cooper Honors Recital at 7:30 p.m. in 91ֱ��’s Warner Concert Hall. Outstanding Semifinal performers will present a free performance of selections from their programs earlier in the competition. This program will be live-streamed at <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/live-webcasts/warner-concert-hall-live-webcast">oberlin.edu/cooper</a>.</p> <p>Details about the participants, jurors, and schedules for each round can be found at the official <a href="/cooper-competition">Cooper Competition website</a>.</p> <p>Follow the Cooper Competition on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coopercompetition/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cooper_competition/">Instagram</a> for photos, behind-the-scenes action, and up-to-date information.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Each will perform with the Cleveland Orchestra Friday, August 4 for a $20,000 grand prize.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-08-02T12:00:00Z">Wed, 08/02/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Shelly Rasmussen</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The three days of semi-final performances that have taken place in Warner Concert Hall culminated Wednesday evening with the selection of three pianists chosen to move on to the Concerto Finals at Severance Hall.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2388">Cooper Competition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2387">Conservatory Summer Programs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3889">Piano</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">2023 Cooper Competition awards ceremony following the Concerto Round. Pictured: L-R (back) Thomas and Evon Cooper, Robert Shannon, Boris Slutsky, Dang Thai Son, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Angela Cheng, and Ewa Poblocka, (front) Filip Trifu, Andrew Sijie Li, Sophia Shuya Liu, Taige Wang, Seoeun Lee, Pyotr Akulov, Yanyan Bao</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Adan Caldera Quintero</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>2023 Cooper International Piano Competition Field Narrowed to Seven Pianists</h1> <p>srasmuss — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:18:56 +0000</p> <span>2023 Cooper International Piano Competition Field Narrowed to Seven Pianists</span> <span><span>srasmuss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-08-01T16:18:56-04:00" title="Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - 16:18">Tue, 08/01/2023 - 16:18</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After two days of nineteen semifinal performances, each consisting of 40-minute programs, the jury has selected seven pianists to move on to the Concerto Round. The Concerto Round on Wednesday features the pianists in performances of a full concerto, with piano accompaniment. Our finalists range in age from 13 to 18 years old and represent seven countries.</p> <p>The following musicians have been selected to advance:</p> <p>Andrew Sijie Li, 15, Boston, Massachusetts | Canada & Hong Kong<br> L. V. BEETHOVEN Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37</p> <p>Sophia Shuya Liu, 14, Montreal, Quebec | Canada<br> C. SAINT-SAENS Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22</p> <p>Yanyan Bao, 16, Zhuhai, Guangdong | China<br> F. CHOPIN Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21</p> <p>Filip Trifu, 18, Vienna | Austria<br> R. SCHUMANN Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54</p> <p>Seoeun Lee, 14, Suwon, Gyeonggi, South Korea<br> F. CHOPIN Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11</p> <p>Taige Wang, 13, New York, New York | United States<br> S. RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43</p> <p>Pyotr Akulov, 16, Moscow | Russia<br> F. LISZT Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124</p> <p>Each pianist will perform on Wednesday, August 2 for the chance to perform in Friday’s Concerto Finals. The Concerto Round will be held in two sessions at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 2 at Warner Concert Hall. The concerts are free and open to the public and available via <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/live-webcasts/warner-concert-hall-live-webcast">livestream</a>. The schedule is available at the <a href="/cooper-competition/piano-2023/schedule">Cooper Competition website.</a></p> <p>Following the Concerto Round on August 3, the jury will determine the three pianists that will perform in the Finals in Cleveland on Friday, August 4. This is the culmination of the week’s competition and will showcase the artists performing complete concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of David Robertson at Severance Music Center's Mandel Concert Hall. </p> <p>At the conclusion of the evening, one participant will be named the Cooper champion, and win a grand prize of $20,000. </p> <p>Tickets for the Friday, August 4, 7:30 p.m. Severance Hall Final Concerto performance can be purchased at <a href="https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/attend/concerts-and-events/2324/other-events/cooper-piano/">Clevelandorchestra.com</a>. Tickets start at just $15 and students under 18 years old are free with a paying adult. More information can be found at the Cleveland Orchestra website or by calling 800-686-1141.</p> <p>Details about the participants, jurors, and schedules for each round can be found at the official <a href="/cooper-competition">Cooper Competition website</a>.</p> <p>Follow the Cooper Competition on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coopercompetition">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cooper_competition/">Instagram</a> for photos, behind-the-scenes action, and up-to-date information.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Concerto round will take place with two performances Wednesday August 2.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-08-01T12:00:00Z">Tue, 08/01/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Shelly Rasmussen</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Three pianists will earn the opportunity to perform with The Cleveland Orchestra August 4 at Severance Hall.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2388">Cooper Competition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2387">Conservatory Summer Programs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3889">Piano</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>