4th Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition Now Open for Applications

Kawai Japan is pleased to announce that applications for the 4th Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition are now officially open.

The Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition (SKIPC) was established in 2017, with the aim of contributing to the development of music culture and promoting international exchange by nurturing the next generation of pianists. Many promising young pianists have participated in the previous three editions of the competition, and their wonderful performance fascinated the audience.

The 4th competition, originally scheduled for 2021, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will now be held in summer 2022. Pre-selection for the competition will start in February 2022, and the Final Round is taking place at the Shibuya Cultural Center Owada “Sakura Hall” on August 6, 2022.

In the Final Round, piano concerto will be performed on two Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand pianos as in the previous competitions. Prestigious pianists Prof. Andrey Pisarev and Prof. Pavel Nersessian at the Moscow Conservatory will perform the orchestra part and support the finalists so that they can fully express their musicality.

Application deadline is January 15, 2022.
For more details, please refer to the official competition website at the address below.

■ Competition Outline

- Schedule

Pre-selection (Overseas)		Feb 2022	Video Screening
Pre-selection (Japan)	Osaka	Feb 26 ~ 27, 2022	Kawai Umeda Concert Salon “Jouer”
	Tokyo	Feb 28, Mar 2 ~ 3, 2022	Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause”
Lottery		Jul 29, 2022	Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause”
1st Round		Jul 30 ~ Aug 1, 2022
Semifinal Round		Aug 2 ~ 3, 2022
Final Round		Aug 6, 2022	Shibuya Cultural Center Owada "Sakura Hall"
Prize Winners’ Concert		Aug 7, 2022	Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause”

*Shigeru Kawai grand pianos are utilized throughout the competition.

- Eligibility

The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities born between April 2, 1993 and April 1, 2005.

- Application Deadline

January 15, 2022 at 24:00 (Japan Time)

*Online Application only.

- Jury Members

Chairperson of Jury	Katsumi UEDA	Japan	Pianist, Honorary Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Specially Appointed Professor at Ueno Gakuen University, Vice Chairperson of Frederic Chopin Society of Japan
Jury members	Katsunori ISHII	Japan	Pianist, Professor at Tokyo College of Music
	Alexander KOBRIN	USA/Russia	Pianist, Associate Professor at Eastman School of Music
	Kayo MIKI	Japan	Pianist, Professor at Kunitachi College of Music, Director of Frederic Chopin Society of Japan
	Nobuhito NAKAI	Japan	Pianist, Professor at Toho Gakuen College Music Department, Guest Professor at Nagoya College of Music
	Ronan O’HORA	UK	Pianist, Head of Keyboard Studies and Head of Advanced Performance Studies at the Guidhall School of Music and Drama in London
	Ying WU	China	Pianist, Professor and Dean of Piano Department at Central Conservatory of Music China