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Notes to the Editor:

AXA Dublin International Piano Competition
 

The competition, now in its 21st year, is widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential in the world.  It is ranked among the top five piano contests along with the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Moscow, the Leeds International Piano Competition, the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, Fort Worth, Texas, and the Chopin Piano Competition, Warsaw.  This year, almost 150 applications have been received from 34 countries with 5 places reserved as of right for Irish competitors.  The final 40 selected take part in the competition which is taking place from Friday 1st May until Friday 15th May at the RDS and the National Concert Hall. 

The international panel of judges, chaired by Irish pianist John O’Conor, are from 10 counties including Australia, Poland, Korea, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Russia, Great Britain, France and the US.  The panel comprises:-

Dr John O’Conor, Chair (Ireland)

One of Ireland’s most distinguished musicians, John O’Conor is Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a co-founder of the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition.  

Professor Andrzej Jasinski (Poland)

A concert pianist for many years throughout Europe and Asia, Professor Jasinski is now best known as a pedagogue, having taught at the Hochschule fur Musik in Stuttgart and the summer music academy Mozarteum in Salzburg. 

Mr Antony Lewis-Crosby (Ireland)                       

Antony Lewis-Crosby is a former Arts Director at the Barbican Centre, London, Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society and most recently Managing Director of the London Mozart Players. 

Mr Asadour Santourian (USA)

Asadour Santourian is artistic advisor and administrator of the Aspen Music Festival and School, and prior to this, artistic director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gergiev Festival in Rotterdam. 

Professor Choong-Mo Kang (Korea)

Professor Kang is currently professor at the Korean National University of Arts, artistic director of the Euro Music Festival in Leipzig and professor at the Ishikawa Music Academy in Korea. 

Dame Fanny Waterman, DBE (Great Britain)

Fanny Waterman established the Leeds International Piano Competition and is a highly distinguished teacher and pedagogue.

Mr Heinz Medjimorec (Austria)

As well as a busy recording and touring schedule with the Haydn Trio Wein, Heinz Medjimorec also gives masterclasses and adjudicates at many international piano and chamber music competitions around the world. 

M. Jacques Rouvier (France)

Jacques Rouvier is Professor of Piano at the Paris National Conservatory of Music and travels regularly to give masterclasses around the world.   

Professor Karl-Heinz Kammerling (Germany)

Prof. Karl-Heinz Kämmerling holds professorships for piano at the Music University of Hannover and the Music University “Mozarteum” of Salzburg. 

Mr Pavel Nersessian (Russia)

Since winning the Guardian Dublin International Piano Competition in 1991, and several other piano competitions worldwide, Pavel Nersessian enjoys a career as a much sought-after concert pianist throughout Europe, the US and Asia, as well as teaching at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire.

Mr Réamonn Keary (Ireland)

Réamonn Keary is a frequent broadcaster and lecturer on the topics of piano teaching and interpretation and is a teacher at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.

Professor Ronan O'Hora (Great Britain)

As a concert pianist, Ronan O’Hora has performed at the Salzburg Festival, the Kennedy Centre in Washington and the Sydney Opera House, in addition to tours of the US, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. 

Mr Anthony Fogg (Australia – USA)

Anthony Fogg is a former Head of Music with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and now Artistic Administrator with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival.