About SKIPC
The Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition was established in 2017 in commemoration
of the 90th anniversary of Kawai Musical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd. The aim of the competition is contributing to the development of musical culture and promoting international exchange by finding out and nurturing pianists of the next generation from around the world.
The Competition has two unique characteristics:
The first is that Shigeru Kawai grand pians are utilized throughout the competition. The Shigeru Kawai full concert piano "SK-EX," which will be used from the 1st Round to the Final Round, has been adopted as the official piano for many prestigious international piano competitions for over 20 years since its debut in 2001, and highly acclaimed as an instrument capable of producing a wide range of tones by performers.
The second is that the repertoire for the final round is a "piano concerto performed by two pianos." Adopted from the second edition, this two-piano concerto will feature the orchestral part performed by Andrey Pisarev, a professor and head of the piano faculty at the Moscow Conservatory and a world-renowned pianist, and Alexei Melnikov, a distinguished young pianist who also studied under the late Prof. Sergei Dorensky, like Prof. Pisarev.
With their powerful musical support, the finalists will have the opportunity to express their music to the fullest.
Shigeru Kawai Brand Site: https://www.shigerukawai.jp/en/
Greetings
Chairperson
Shigeru Kawai International Piano
Competition Committee
Kentaro KAWAI
Japan
President
Kawai Musical Inst. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
In commemoration of our company's 90th anniversary, the Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition was established in 2017 and has now reached its 5th edition. We are delighted that over 1,000 pianists from more than 20 countries and regions have participated so far, and the Competition has grown to attract international attention. This success is entirely thanks to the support and cooperation of all those involved, and we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude.
As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2027, we are reaffirming and developing the "Kawai Ism" that we have continuously inherited for 97 years since our founding. This spirit embodies the pursuit of high ideals, never yielding to adversity, and being sincere and warm-hearted. With renewed determination, we will carry this forward. Beyond our 100th anniversary, Kawai will continue to strive towards our ultimate goal of building the world's finest pianos for the next 100 years.
We are truly looking forward to seeing the wonderful performances you will deliver with the "Shigeru Kawai" pianos, the realization of our dreams, during this Competition.
Kentaro Kawai, President
Advisors
Advisor
Hitoshi KOBAYASHI
Japan
Pianist,
Emeritus Professor
at Tokyo Unversity of the Arts,
Advisor to Frederic Chopin Society of Japan,
Honorary Chairman of Japan
Piano Teachers Association
Winner of the first prize and the special prize at the 25th Music Competition of Japan. In 1960-64 he studied in Munich as a scholarship student of Bavaria, Germany.
At the International Chopin Competition in 1960 he was given an Honorary Diploma. Has performed over 40 concertos with the most of major orchestras in Japan. He was invited as a jury at many piano competitions in and outside of Japan such as the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1995 and the Geneva
International Music Competition.
The Gold Medal for Merit to Culture "Gloria Artis" was awarded him from Polish government in recognition of his substantial contribution to the culture of Poland. In autumn of 2015, he received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
Music Advisor
Akiko EBI
Japan
Chairperson of the SKIPC Jury
(1st Edition 2017 & 2nd Edition 2018)
Pianist,
Chairperson of
Frederic Chopin Society of Japan,
Chairman of Yokohama International
Piano Planning Committee
After winning the 41st Music Competition of Japan, Akiko Ebi studied abroad at the Paris Conservatoire. She was Grand Prix winner of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition, and she also won 5th prize of the International Chopin Piano Competition. She has received numerous awards including two Japan Gold Disc Awards. She has performed with so many musicians, and her 2-piano recitals with Martha Argerich have been repeatedly broadcast all over the world.
For more than 30 years, she has been active as a participating musician in music festivals and recordings for TV and radio in 36 countries in the world.
She has served on the juries of international piano competitions. She was a chairperson of jury of the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition and a jury member of the International Chopin Piano Competition.
She is now placing emphasis on music education as well, and is enjoying the full confidence of music circle worldwide.
© Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition
