About the competition
First organised back in 2017-18, the Classic Piano International Competition was set up with the aim of introducing a truly international spirit to the world of musical contests. Bringing in a new format that had at that point never been seen before, that first edition featured no fewer than 11 preliminary rounds, each of which was held in a different country around the world, and all of which led up to the Grand Finale which took place in the Mediterranean island of Malta.
In 2021, the event entered its second edition, one far grander in scope than the first, with the number of preliminary competitions — and hosting locations — increasing from 11 to 14, a Grand Finale held in the global city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and a new, record-breaking prize fund. In 2024, CMDI Group and SAMIT Event Group will present the next iteration of this event, one which looks to build on the successes and lessons of the past to become the most ambitious edition of Classic Piano yet!
Taking place in Dubai once more, this third edition of Classic Piano shall be the culmination of two years of international high-level competitions held at music capitals all around the world. The USA, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Kazakhstan, Poland, UK, Armenia, China, South Korea, Japan, Israel and Spain shall have all played host to one of the 14 preliminary competitions, with seven scheduled to take place in 2022 and a further seven in 2023. Dubai audiences can look forward to breathtaking performances from the five top-ranked contestants of each of these preliminary contests, who will test themselves against each other over four stringent rounds for a total prize fund of €250,000 awaiting the most accomplished.
Over the course of the competition in February 2024, participants will be analysed on every facet of their musical skill set, with each phase being specifically designed to make sure that all aspects of their musical abilities will be put to the challenge. To this end, the first two rounds of the competition will see the pianists delivering solo recitals, while the final two shall have them performing alongside a symphonic orchestra so that jurors will be able to perfectly evaluate their abilities within both scenarios. Similarly, Classic Piano also boasts a diverse and wide-ranging repertoire, with pianists being asked to perform pieces from across the entire spectrum of the corpus, so as to ensure their versatility and roundedness as musicians.
In true adherence to the belief that music can bring together all nations and races from every corner of the world, the Classic Piano International Piano Competition 2024 is open to pianists of all nationalities, with the only criteria for eligibility being the individual’s skill and determination. Music is, after all, a universal language, and Classic Piano looks to celebrate this by bringing together people from so many disparate countries, united solely through their shared love and appreciation for this fundamental medium of human expression.
