SJIPC FINAL ROUND

The San Jose International Piano Competition has reached its FINAl ROUND, featuring three final contestants out of the original twenty-five! The three finalists were selected from the twelve contestants from the second round.

The final round is the most exciting round in a competition, and I am honoured to have attended the final round for SJIPC. The three contestants performed almost hour long sets, consisting of technically demanding and emotionally exhilerating pieces. CONGRATULATIONS to the winners! Alexey Trushechkin took first place, Siqian Li took second place, and Hugo Kitano took third! Today, please come the Awards Ceremony, Winners Concert, and Banquet. This is a ticketed event, so get yours HERE!

Siqian Li performed three pieces, Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues by Frederic Rzewski, Sonata in A Major, D.664 by Franz Schubert, and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky. The 26 year-old pianist from China began her musical education at the age of 4, when she studied with a prestigious Chinese teacher and pianist, Madame Huiqiao Bao. Li is pursuing her Graduate Diploma, and has participated in many competitions, as well as masterclasses and festivals. She is also the recipient of several scholarships and awards!

Siqian Li's set was stirring. From the very start, Li had the audience hooked with Rzewski's Winnaboro Cotton Mill Blues, which she proceeded with Schubert's Sonata in A Major, a classic and a personal favorite of mine. My grandmother - who also attended the final round of the competition with me - enjoyed Li's performances, especially her interpretation of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. My granny said that she loves Mussorgsky's Suite and was glad to hear it performed in its entirety and so well!

Next up was 29 year-old pianist Alexey Trushechkin. Trushechkin is from Russia, and his set consisted of six pieces: Sonata in F minor, Op. 14 by Robert Schumann, Etude, Op. 73. No. 5 and Norwegian Folk Dance, Op. 17, No. 5 by Edvard Grieg, Paganini Etude in A minor, Theme and Variations, S. 141, no. 6 by Franz Liszt, A la Albeniz by Rodion Schedrin, and Sonata No. 5, Op. 53 by Alexander Scriabin. 

Trushechkin's set exuded emotions and feeling! With a heavy leaning towards Romanticism in his final round's set, Trushechkin demonstrated how emotion and technique go hand in hand! Trushechkin is currently receiving his Artist Diploma at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music. Much like Li, Trushechkin has won many competitions and received many awards.

The last contestant was Hugo Kitano, 23 year-old pianist from the U.S. Kitano has received many awards at several piano competitions, and is currently receiving his Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School in Toronto.

Kitano performed In The Mists by Leoš Janáček, Sonata in E Major, Op. 109 by Ludvig van Beethoven, Barcarolle, Op. 60 by Frédéric Chopin, and La valse by Maurice Ravel. Kitano's set demonstrated his technique magnificently, as well as his interpretation. My personal favorite was Chopin's Barcarolle, which Kitano performed with vigour. The last piece in his set was a grandiose conclusion to the final round of the competition.

The SJIPC also had an audience vote for an additional $500 price, where the audience turned in their vote for their favorite contestant out of the three in the Final Round. I just received news from Julie Poklewski, Director of Operations, that this "mini" competition was won by Alexey Trushechkin, who got first place from the public vote! Trushechkin's Russian pieces earned him Best Performance of Russian Music! Hugo Kitano was awarded Best Bay Area contestant, Best Beethoven Sonata, and Best Romantic work! Siqian Li was awarded Best Virtuoso Etude Performance!

Sun-A Park (U.S.) and Martin Kesuma (Indonesia) received Honorable Mention, and Daniel Tselyakov (Canada) received Best Performance of Contemporary Work (sponsored by Ava Ektefaie).

Many thanks to Distinguished Members of the Jury of the 2019 San Jose International Piano Competition, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Sofya Gulyak, Chih-Long Hu, Luis Magalhaes, and Namik Sultanov!

Thanks for reading, and see you tonight at the Winners Concert!