Great Piano Playing at the Santa Cecilia

Beijing-based Zhexiang Li, who took first place, won 25,000 euros in cash, awarded by the Porto City Council, plus an additional 5,000 euros for recording an album with KNS Classical, as well as a recital in the Piano Cycle at the Casa da Música in Porto. Li He has performed and held solo concerts in famous concert halls and theaters around the world, and with famous orchestras in China and around the world, such as China Philharmonic Orchestra,  Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Salzburg Soloists Chamber Orchestra and others.

Winner of several other international competitions, Sergey Belyavsky, who came second, received 15,000 euros. He is currently studying with Arie Vardi in Hannover, Germany. 

Having recently won the Silver Medal at the Gurwitz Competition in San Antonio, Texas, Tatiana Dorokhova of Volgograd was awarded Third Prize and 10,000 euros.

Councillor for Education and Social Cohesion, Fernando Paulo, represented the Municipality, which supports and funds the structure surrounding this prestigious global event. "I salute the participating young musicians whose performances were incredible. We strongly believe in the creative power of young people, in your values, and in your role as builders of peace and of a more just, cohesive, and supportive Europe," he emphasised, highlighting the importance for the city of hosting an event of this magnitude. "This festival is certainly the national competition in Portugal with the largest number of participants, the largest number of countries represented, and an international panel renowned for the prestige of its members, which greatly honours the Municipality, bringing prestige and affirming Porto as an educating and cultural city," underlined the Councillor for Education and Social Cohesion.

For the councillor, it is "an honour and a privilege to witness the high artistic quality, merit, and cultural relevance of the competition, which today has great national and international prestige. Its contribution to the promotion and projection of new performers through their public presentation at various national and international recitals and festivals, and in prestigious concert halls, is invaluable".

The International Santa Cecilia Competition is the largest and oldest international music competition in Portugal. The closing concert of the main category, with the Porto Casa da Música Symphony Orchestra, was conducted by guest British conductor Martin André.

Prizes:
1st Prize: Zhexiang Li (18), Beijing
2nd Prize: Sergey Belyavsky(30), Hannover
3rd prize: Tatiana Dorokhova (32), Missouri

Jury:
Álvaro Teixeira Lopes(Chair), Alexandre Moutouzkine, Carles Lama, Florian Koltun, Markus Schirmer, Muriel Chemin, Paulo Oliveira, Vincenzo Balzani

Artists:
Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música / Martin André (Conductor)

©️ WFIMC 2024