High Stakes at the Epinal International Piano Competition

50 candidates gathered in Epinal, France, to take part in the international piano competition held here every two years. The people of this friendly town were delighted by this exciting event, which enables each young pianist to make a name for himself or herself on the winners' lists with a view to a future international career. It's a unique experience for artists to come face to face with the world's different piano schools.

After the semi-final, a recital programme comprising a contemporary piece commissioned to Thierry Huillet, French composer, the jury selected four finalists:

Yuya Nishimoto (Tokyo) won the Grand Prix Épinal la Belle Image, first Prize in the Épinal International Piano Competition, as well as the contemporary music Prize at the Rotonde in Thaon-les-Vosges on Sunday. He won over the jury with Frédéric Chopin's Concerto N°1 in E minor, Op. 11, a work performed by three of the finalists. Akiko Ebi, chair of the Jury, underlined the 22 years old pianist's sound quality.

2nd Prize was awarded to Aidan Mikdad who also won the french music Prize, while Mathis Cathignol got the 3rd Prize.

Eugenia Sánchez Durán won Fourth Prize and the Audience Prize with her interpretation of the Concerto n°1 by Sergei Prokofiev.