NTD’s 7th International Piano Competition officially kicked off in New York on Monday.
Contestants from Europe, Asia, and America gathered at the Kaufman Music Center on Tuesday, the first day of the preliminary round. The competition will last six days.
Elie Casbi, a contestant from France, said, “Whatever happens next, I will have a very, very good memory of this moment.”
The mission of this competition is to promote traditional arts of “pure authenticity, pure goodness, and pure beauty.” The entries are limited to piano works from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods.
Contestant Ching-Yi Lin from Taiwan said, “All the repertoire that NTD chose for competitors are very conventional and they are also very authentic.”
Elie Casbi: “I was a bit surprised [that the competition requires classical repertoire]. It’s an unusual feature.”
Tom Han, a contestant from Canada: “This kind of music can be treated as a language. The content inside, I think is compassionate. When you listen to this kind of music, you will feel very calm and peaceful inside.”
The competition features a special commissioned piece, rearranged from one of the vocal pieces composed by Artistic Director of Shen Yun Performing Arts, D. F.
This year’s commissioned piece, “Holy Grace,” a symphonic poem, is classical Chinese music for the piano.
Semifinal competitors will have a chance to compete for the “Best Rendition Award of the Commissioned Composition.”
Competition Schedule
Semifinals: Oct. 17, 10 a.m. ET Finals: Oct. 18, 1:20 p.m. ET Winners’ Concert: Oct. 19, 2 p.m. ET Awards Ceremony: Oct. 19, 4:50 p.m. ETAdmission tickets: $25
