The 15th Hilton Head International Piano Competition, presented by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, March 8 – 15, 2010. Twenty competitors from 11 countries will be performing in four rounds of competition. Round I, on Monday and Tuesday, March 8 and 9, will be held from 1:30 to 4:40pm and 7:00 to 9:10pm. Round II, on Thursday and Friday, March 11 and March 12, will be held from 1:30 to 5:10pm and 7:00 to 9:30pm. Six Semifinalists will compete in Round III on Saturday, March 13 from 1:30 to 5:20pm and 7:30 to 9:15pm.
Three finalists will vie in Round IV for cash prizes totaling $33,000 plus engagements on Monday evening, March 15, at 7:00pm. Each finalist will perform a concerto with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.
There are also some Special Events during Competition week. Fourteen-year-old pianist, George Li, Second Prize Winner of the Gina Bachauer International Junior Competition will give a recital on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30pm at Holy Family Church, HHI. This recital is a preview of the extraordinary talent you will hear at the inaugural Hilton Head International Young Artists Competition, March 7 – 13, 2011. The public is invited, admission is free but contributions are very welcomed.
On Monday, March 15, the day of the Finals, the Competition will also present Master Classes with six Competition Judges and six Competitors, as well as a Lecture/Recital given by John O’Conor, 2010 Jury Chairman, entitled “Humour and Tragedy in Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas”. The Master Classes are held in two sessions: (1) 9:00 – 11:25am and (2) 1:45 – 4:10pm. The Lecture/Recital will be given from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Both Master Classes and the Lecture/Recital are free and open to the public and are held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3001 Meeting Street, HHI. Spend the day at All Saints and enjoy lunch between sessions. Lunch tickets are $10 if purchased before 5:30pm on March 13, or $15 at the door.
Featured on all 2010 HHIPC materials is the artwork by Lindsay Johnson, winner of the SCAD 2010 Poster Competition. It is one of 38 entries created by the Savannah College of Art and Design students for the HHIPC. All 38 entries will be on exhibit and for sale at the Arts League of Hilton Head Gallery in Pineland Station March 9 – April 10.
All tickets may be purchased online at www.hhipc.org, by calling the Competition box office at 1-843-842-2055, or at the Competition. For more information about the 15th HHIPC March 8 – 15, 2010, visit the Competition website at www.hhipc.org.
