On 13–16 October, the European Foundation for Support of Culture and the Arev Arts Management presented the Japan Piano Open International Competition 2019 held for the second time in Tokyo, Japan’s capital.
Tokyo, a great city with many faces, capital of Japan, the world’s only empire, cannot be described in a few words or a couple of epithets, however eloquent they might be. Modernity and old Japanese traditions co-exist in harmony and intermingle in this ancient city. The Old Town deserves special mention. Visiting its many palaces, temples and shrines, people become immersed in the era of the shoguns, long-time absolute rulers of the Land of the Rising Sun. Art lovers will quench their thirst for beauty at Tokyo’s many museums, theatres and galleries.
Pianist Masahiro Kawakami (Japan), Professor of Tokyo College of Music, winner of many piano competitions, honorary member of jury panels of many famous piano festivals, was the artistic director of the Japan Open Music Festival. Nikita Fitenko (Russia/US) chaired the jury; Prof. Fitenko is a renowned pianist, Chair of the Department of Music Performance at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama and Art (The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC), Yamaha Performer and artistic director of many piano festivals. The competition’s jury also included world-famous professors from leading conservatories.
The Japan Piano Open International Competition had a total prize fund of €50,000.