Piano contest

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 18

Piano contest

The standard of the 35 competitors in the third Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia, who include Christchurch’s Sharon Joy Vogan, is the highest yet, according to the artistic director of the contest Mr Rex Hobcraft said the number and standard of the entries reflected the prestige of the competition. Mr Hobcraft auditioned 105 of 153 entries from 38 countries. The contest begins on Friday of next week and continues through stages one and two, semi-finals and finals to July 27. The contest will be judged by a jury of three, that includes the Australian

pianist, Eileen Joyce, the critic Harold Schonberg, and a music professor, Dr Peter Solymos. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Petra. String Quartet will accompany the contestants at various stages. A recording of the semi-finalists and finalists will be made. The $420,000 budget contest is $40,000 short of its target The contest has been given the status of a major International Youth Year project and strong support has been given by the New South Wales youth secretariat. The contest has a number of large sponsors. The contest will be held in the Sydney Opera House.