TALENTED VIRTUOSO PIANISTS AGES 18-35 COME TO PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA TO COMPETE AT VIRGINIA WARING INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
From March 29 through April 5, 2009, Palm Desert will again be host to 8 days of glorious music as some of the world’s most gifted young classical pianists aged 18 – 35 compete in solo piano, piano with string quartet and piano concerto rounds. Most events are free with two low cost Final Concerts. The event is open to the public with most events free and held at two venues, the Indian Wells Theater at the California State University, San Bernardino – Palm Desert Campus and at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. Event schedule is available at www.vwipc.org <http://www.vwipc.org> or by calling 760-773-2575.
This biennial event is viewed as an important springboard for the future stars of the solo, chamber and orchestral piano concert arena. The 2009 Competition accepts only 25 contestants from around the world. The public can also audit a Master Class with Yale’s School of Music’s renowned piano pedagogue Boris Berman.
There are two special features of this competition. The Ernst Krenek Solo Performance Prize is sponsored by the Ernst Krenek Society of Palm Springs. One of the foremost 20th century composers, Ernst Krenek’s name is synonymous with 20th century music. A Palm Springs resident for over 30 years, Krenek’s widow, Gladys Krenek, is an active supporter of the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition.
New this year is the chamber music round, ending with the Chamber Music Performance Prize. Contestants advancing to the semi-finals will play a piano quintet with the exciting Del Sol String Quartet. The ever popular Concerto Finals with Orchestra returns to the McCallum Theatre Sunday, April 5, 2009. Maestro John A. Roscigno conducts the Waring Festival Orchestra featuring the CSUN Symphony Orchestra.
The Master Class on April 4 and all events March 29 through April 2 are free to the public. Tickets to the Solo Finals on April 3 and the Concerto Finals with Orchestra on April 5 range from $10 - $35.
Major support for the VWIPC comes from the Annenberg Foundation, the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. Presenting Sponsor is the City of Palm Desert; Platinum Sponsor is the City of Indian Wells, and Education Sponsor is Wells Fargo - The Private Bank. Additional support comes from the City of Indian Wells, Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation, the Sirpuhe and John Conte Foundation, the McCarthy Family Foundation – Edeltraud and Patrick McCarthy, the Ernst Krenek Society of Palm Springs, JoAnn McGrath, the City of Rancho Mirage and the Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Venue partners are the California State University, San Bernardino – Palm Desert Campus and the McCallum Theatre. Steinway & Sons is the official piano of the competition. Media partners include KUSC Classical FM radio, KGAM, KDES, KPSI, Mix100.5, and Progressive Talk Radio 1340. For further information, call 760-773-2575 or visit www.vwipc.org.
INDIAN WELLS THEATER on the Palm Desert Campus of CSUSB on Cook Street
March 29 Solo Preliminary – 9 am & 2 pm
March 30 Solo Preliminary – 9 am & Piano Quintet round – 7 pm
March 31 Concerto Preliminary – 9 am & 2 pm
April 1 Concerto Preliminary – 9 am & Piano Quintet round – 7 pm
April 2 Solo Semi-Finals – 9 am
April 3 Solo Finals – Indian Wells Theater - $20 & $10 – 7 PM
April 4 Master Class – Indian Wells Theater – 10 am
McCALLUM THEATRE - April 5- 2 PM - Concerto Finals with Orchestra, $15, $25, $35
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