Brahms Piano Competition Detmold 2019

Yesterday, the winners of the Brahms Piano Competition Detmold 2019 were determined: The jury of the final round, consisting of university professors Andrea Bonatta (Bolzano), Konrad Elser (Lübeck), Mamiko Suda (Tokyo), Jacob Leuschner (Detmold), Brahms specialist Andreas Boyde (London) and Detmold's General Music Director Lutz Rademacher, decided to award the first prize of 5,000 euros to Japanese pianist Fuko Ishii (28) and the second prize of 3,000 euros to Rie Kibayashi (30). Kibayashi, who also comes from Japan, also received a special prize of 1,000 euros for the best interpretation of a work by Clara Schumann. The prize was provided by the Foundation of the Detmold University of Music. In addition to the prize money for the 1st and 2nd prizes, which was provided by the Alfred Reinhold Foundation and its chairman Dr. Ingbert Blüthner-Haessler, numerous follow-up engagements were promised for the prize winners: Fuko Ishii will perform with the Detmold Chamber Orchestra in the historic Kaisersaal in Schloss Corvey in 2020. She will also have the opportunity to perform in Europe's oldest free-standing concert hall, the Bagno Concert Gallery in Steinfurt. Furthermore, she receives an invitation for a recital at the Böblingen International Pianist Festival. Finally, she is given the opportunity to make her own CD recording by the renowned Erich Thienhaus Institute in Detmold (Tonmeisterausbildung). Rie Kibayashi can look forward to a solo evening in the festival hall of Moritzburg Castle in Detmold's twin city Zeitz. The Alfred Reinhold Foundation will also have both prize-winners perform in its own concert series. Furthermore, a prize-winners' concert will take place in the well-known Thürmer Hall in Bochum. "The number of follow-up engagements has increased compared to last time," summed up Artistic Director Jacob Leuschner. "In addition to the prize money, the finalists are also built bridges for their future in the form of concert engagements and CD productions."