Kyiv - International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz

Among the cultural and art measures that promote Ukraine's integration with the world community the International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz figures prominently. This is the only Piano Competition in Ukraine, which since 2004 is a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC).

The Competition was founded in 1995 commemorates a memory of our eminent compatriot, legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz, who was born and educated in Kyiv. More than 1500 young musicians from 35 countries have taken part in the Competition so far.

The Competition is holding during three years: 1st – Junior Group (under 14 years); 2nd – Intermediate Group (from 14 to 19 years); 3rd – Senior Group (from 16 to 33 years). The Competition consists of four stages: Qualifying round, First and Second rounds (solo programs), Third round accompanied by the symphony orchestra.  Victory in the Competition is honourable and high recommendation for a performer. It's confirmed by the further success of the Competition's Prizewinners who became winners of the prestigious world musical competitions such as Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan) – Alexej Gorlatch; Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan) and Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (Israel) – Alexander Gavrylyuk; Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (the USA) – Alexey Koltakov, Vadym Kholodenko, Rachel Cheung Wai Ching; ARD International Music Competition (Germany) – Denys Proshayev; Maria Callas Grand Prix (Greece) – Vadym Kholodenko, Maria Kim; Sydney International Piano Competition (Australia) – Evgeny Ukhanov, Dmytro Onishchenko; Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists (Germany) – Kostiantyn Tovstukha, Oleksiy Kanke; International Tchaikovsky Competition (Russia) – Dmytro Onishchenko; Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition (the USA) – Rachel Cheung Wai Ching; International piano competition Ettore Pozzoli (Italy) – Alexandre Pirojenko; Competition in Shanghai – Alexei Grynyuk; "George Enescu" International Festival and Competition (Romania) – Eduard Kunz; 62nd Gian Battista Viotti International piano Competition (Italy) – Illya Zuyko; "Ferruccio Busoni" International Piano Competition (Italy) and Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (Israel) –  Antonii Baryshevskyi; Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan) and Géza Anda International Piano Competition in Zurich (Switzerland) – Elmar Gasanov; Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy) and Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan) – Roman Lopatinskyi; Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy), Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition (Spain) – Dmytro Choni. It's the only Competition in Ukraine in the framework of which since 1998 there's been a "School of Performing Art" (since 2000 – International Summer Music Academy).

During these years more than 700 young musicians from 18 countries attended master-classes of famous musicians-pedagogues from Australia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, the USA, Turkey, France and Ukraine.

In 1998 the Competition initiated the renaissance of the traditions of holding the enlightening concerts for public on the open stage of the Central Park of culture and resort. During 14 International festivals "Kyiv Summer Music Evenings" there were 364 concerts, in which 836 participants and 171 groups took part from 31 countries of the world such as Austria, Armenia, Belarus, China, Croatia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mexico, Macedonia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the USA.

In order to encourage further development of young Prizewinners the International Charitable Fund of Vladimir Horowitz Competition initiated in 2006 the first in the world music festival The International festival "Virtuosos of the Planet". It is a unique project because representatives of the planet's performing elite, first Prizewinners and Grand Prix holders of the most prestigious world competitions – members of the World Federation of International Music Competitions – perform in the Festival.

Part of the active cooperation between world competitions is the exchange of Prizewinners, who thanks to this have the opportunity to perform in different countries of the world.