Santander International Piano Competition announces 2022 winners

Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko has won the First Prize of the Santander International Piano Competition. Izik-Dzurko will receive a cash prize of €30,000, plus performance opportunities across Spain and beyond and the recording of a CD under the Naxos label.

Further prizes awarded at a gala evening held at the Palacio de Festivales de Cantabri included the competition’s €20,000 Second Prize which was awarded to China’s Xiaolu Zang, and €10,000 Third Prize which went to French-Japanese pianist Marcel Tadokoro. Finalist Awards of €5,000 were also given to the remaining three competitors who made it to the final stage: Yu Nitahara, Matyáš Novák and Domonkos Csabay.

In a statement released on his website, Izik-Dzurko said: ‘Participating in the competition was an intense but wonderful experience. It was a true privilege to meet so many wonderful pianists and to hear their incredible performances. I feel honoured to have collaborated with the superb Cuarteto Casals and with Pablo González and the Orquesta Sinfónica RTVE.’

Izik-Dzurko will have a further opportunity to perform with the Cuarteto Casals as winner of the competition’s first Special Award to the Best Chamber Music Performer he will give a concert with the ensemble plus guest artists. The final’s in-person audience also voted Izik-Dzurko as the winner of the Canon Audience Award which comprised a package of Canon products.

The Competition’s Awards Ceremony was broadcast live on RTVE Play and you can watch it on the Competition’s YouTube Channel here.

You can find out more about the Santander International Piano Competition here.