Jaeden Izik-Dzurko is crowned Grand Prize Laureate in Montreal

Competitions

29 May 2024

CMIM announces the winners of its 2024 Piano Competition

Pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko has won the top honour at the 2024 Piano Edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM).

In addition to remarkable technical mastery and musicality, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko stood out for his captivating stage charisma. As the Grand Laureate of Piano 2024, he also won several special prizes. The Final took place at the Maison symphonique, where the six finalists performed the concerto of their choice accompanied by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM), the official orchestra of the CMIM, under the direction of Guest Conductor Xian Zhang.

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, 25, from Salmon Arm, B.C., receives $80,000 cash, plus concert and recording engagements valued at approximately $60,000. He was also awarded the $5,000 prize for top Canadian in the competition.

In the competition's final round, Izik-Dzurko performed Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and conductor Xian Zhang.

Following his semifinal solo recital, Izik-Dzurko was awarded the $3,000 prize for best performance of a sonata, and the $2,500 prize for best performance of the imposed piece, Mzizaakok Miiniwaa Mzizaakoonsak by Barbara Assiginaak.

Izik-Dzurko is a graduate of the Juilliard School. He holds a master's degree from the University of British Columbia, where he studied with Corey Hamm. He currently studies with Jacob Leuschner at the Detmold Hochschule für Musik in Germany, and in Rome with Benedetto Lupo at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

Izik-Dzurko has also won first prizes at the 2022 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the 2022 Maria Canals International Music Competition and the 20th Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition.

The Montreal International Music Competition's $15,000 second prize went to London-based pianist Gabriele Strata, who also won the $5,000 audience prize; and the $10,000 third prize was awarded to New York pianist Anthony Ratinov.

With the 2024 winner being from Canada, it seems more likely that the Montreal Competition may maintain its piano and violin categories, defying expectations that the competition might place more weight on its vocal category.

Pianists who have previously won first prize at the Montreal International Music Competition in the piano category include Beatrice Rana (2011), Jayson Gillham (2014) and Zoltan Fejervari (201

Prizes:
1st Prize: Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (25), Salmon Arm, B.C.

2nd Prize: Gabriele STRATA (24), London

3rd Prize: Anthony RATINOV (24), New York

Jury:
Zarin Mehta(Chair), Dmitri Alexeev, Lydia Artymiw, Louise Bessette, Jan Jiracek von Arnim, Robert Levin, Hélène Mercier, Ronan O’Hora, Minsoo Sohn

Artists:
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal / Xian Zhang (Conductor)

©️WFIMC 2024