Santander International Piano Competition announces finalists

The Santander International Piano Competition has today announced the selection of six pianists to take part in the competition final on 3 and 4 August.

Following the competition semifinal which ran from 29 July to 1 August in the Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria’s Sala Pereda, the competition Jury, led by pianist Joaquín Achúcarro, has announced the six contestants who will participate in the competition final starting tomorrow.

The finalists are:

• Yu Nitahara from Japan (31 years old)
• Marcel Tadokoro from France/Japan (28 years old)
• Matyáš Novák from Czech Republic (23 years old)
• Xiaolu Zang from China (22 years old)
• Domonkos Csabay from Hungary (31 years old)
• Jaeden Izik-Dzurko from Canada (22 years old)

Part of this year’s Santander International Festival, the final will see the six finalists perform accompanied by the Radiotelevisión Española Symphony Orchestra (RTVE) under the baton of its chief conductor, Pablo González.

All six pianists will receive the competition’s €5,000 finalist prize, but they will all be aiming for the competition Gold medal, offering concert and recording opportunities as well as a cash prize of €30,000. The Silver medal includes a cash prize of € 20,000 and the Bronze medal a prize of €10,000,with both medals offering concert opportunities in Spain and abroad.

The Audience Award, sponsored this year by Canon España is given based on the voting of the live public in the Palacio de Festivales. The audience will be able to decide on the winner after each of the final concerts, with voting taking place in the hall. The winner will receive a set of Canon equipment.

The competition is broadcast live on RTVE Play and on the Santander International Piano Competition YouTube channel with the Final broadcast on Radio Clásica of Radio Nacional de España and TVE’s La 2. The Awards Gala, held on 5 August will be broadcast on TVE2.

You can find out more Santander International Piano Competition here.