Piano Cleveland and Cleveland Institute of Music to Present Innovative Summer Institute Alongside 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists

The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and Piano Cleveland will present the Cleveland International Piano Competition and Institute for Young Artists in summer 2023.

In partnership with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation and supported by Steinway & Sons and bringing together four internationally recognized institutions in the classical piano world, this initiative will provide two unparalleled musical experiences for pianists ages 11-18. This special collaboration will take place in Cleveland from July 5-16, 2023, at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

The 2023 Competition and Institute for Young Artists offers two tracks for young pianists: a youth competition and an institute with private lessons, masterclasses, and workshops. All students will be hosted at the Cleveland Institute of Music, a state-of-the-art music campus built to shape the future of classical musicians. Prizes for the Cleveland International Piano Competition and Institute exceed $30,000. 

The Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists 
The Competition portion builds on the success of the 2018 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists and the hybrid format of the 2021 Cleveland International Piano Competition, presented by Piano Cleveland. Around 30 contestants from Junior (ages 11-14) and Senior (ages 15-18) Divisions will be selected from a pre-screening round in January 2023. Selected contestants will record their First Round performances at Steinway & Sons galleries and partner locations in Beijing, Cleveland, Hamburg, London, New York, and Seoul in spring 2023. All First Round performances will be broadcast internationally on Piano Cleveland’s website and YouTube channel in July. 

Six finalists – three per age group – will be invited to Cleveland from July 11-16, 2023, for the unique opportunity to work closely with conductor and CIM alum Steven Byess (MM ’89, Lane/Topilow) as well as professional chamber musicians and world-class Institute for Young Artists faculty members before their Final Round performances on July 13-16, 2023. Finalists will perform piano trios and concerto movements with The Canton Symphony led by Maestro Byess. 

The format of the Final Round is structured to provide pedagogical value to young pianists, who often do not have the opportunity to increase their knowledge as part of a competition experience. Finalists will not only be able to receive feedback from high-level piano faculty, but will also be able to work one-on-one with Maestro Byess and chamber musicians before their Final Round competition performances, both rare opportunities in the youth competition world. 

“The world’s most promising young pianists will experience the unparalleled musical opportunities that Cleveland and the University Circle neighborhood offer through this unique program that will benefit their future careers,” says Yaron Kohlberg, President of Piano Cleveland and CIPC Medalist. “This competition will provide a holistic approach to a participant's musical development that for many, will be the first time they are able to work with high-level professional musicians in a chamber music setting or receive one-on-one mentorship from a well-known conductor, let alone being able to apply these experiences in a competition setting.”  

The jury for the CIPC for Young Artists includes Ran Dank (University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music), Kevin Kenner (Frost School of Music – University of Miami), Alexander Korsantia (New England Conservatory), Janet Landreth (International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival), Vanessa Latarche (Royal College of Music), Yong Hi Moon (Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University) and Robert Shannon (Oberlin College & Conservatory).  

Institute for Young Artists 
Parallel to the Competition is the Institute for Young Artists, a new initiative presented by CIM and Piano Cleveland for young pianists to develop their skills through working with high-level faculty. In addition to lessons and masterclasses, Institute participants will take part in workshops that provide exceptional training beyond traditional topics, such as competition preparation, applying for higher music education, and building a musical career. In addition, Institute participants will learn alongside the Finalists for the CIPC for Young Artists; both groups of young pianists can be inspired by one another and benefit from the resources that CIM and Piano Cleveland’s high-level Institute faculty and guest artists have to offer.  

“CIM is excited to partner with Piano Cleveland, the Lang Lang Foundation and Steinway & Sons to offer unparalleled performance and educational opportunities to some of the brightest emerging artists from around the globe,” said Kathryn Brown, head of CIM’s Piano department and lead organizer of the Institute for Young Artists with Piano Cleveland. “The unique synthesis of a Competition and Institute sets the stage for curiosity, exploration, community and 360-degree musicianship.” 

Institute Faculty includes Cleveland Institute of Music professors Kathryn Brown, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Daniel Shapiro, Sean Schulze and Gerardo Teissonnière, as well as Soyeon Kate Lee (The Juilliard School), Yaron Kohlberg (President, Piano Cleveland), Zsolt Bognár (pianist, host of Living the Classical Life), and jury members from the CIPC for Young Artists (Ran Dank, Kevin Kenner, Alexander Korsantia, Janet Landreth, Vanessa Latarche, Yong Hi Moon, Robert Shannon). Special workshops and performances will be offered by leading pianist Gabriela Montero and Eva Gevorgyan, First Prize Winner of 2018 CIPC for Young Artists Junior Division. 

The Institute will work in partnership with the Lang Lang Foundation, an international leader in the development of young pianists. As an artistic partner of the Institute, the Lang Lang Foundation will sponsor ten students from the Lang Lang Young Scholars Program to attend the Institute and learn alongside Institute participants and CIPC for Young Artists Finalists. 

“I've been fortunate to work with some of the most extraordinary young pianists throughout my career,” said Lukas Barwinski-Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. “Watching them grow as musicians has been incredible but seeing how they support each other in their endeavors is genuinely inspiring. They have become a community that grows and learns together, which is irreplaceable. The Institute is the perfect place to foster this type of community amongst our scholars, Competition finalists, and Institute students.” 

Applications for this highly regarded competition and parallel institute are open now. The Early Bird Application Deadline is November 15, 2022, and the final Application Deadline is December 15, 2022. For information about audition requirements, competition repertoire, and how to apply, visit pianocleveland.org.  

About Piano Cleveland
Established in 1974, Piano Cleveland promotes Cleveland as a premier piano destination by presenting world-class programming, community engagement, and education initiatives. The organization’s four major programs and events include the quadrennial Cleveland International Piano Competition, CIPC for Young Artists, Concert Series, year-round education and community outreach programming. For more information, visit www.pianocleveland.org.  

About the Cleveland Institute of Music 
The Cleveland Institute of Music empowers the world’s most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential. Its graduates command the most celebrated and revered stages in the world as soloists, chamber musicians and ensemble members; compose meaningful, award-winning new repertoire; and are highly sought-after teaching artists, administrators and thought leaders. A testament to the excellence of a CIM education, more than half of the members of The Cleveland Orchestra are connected to CIM as members of the faculty, alumni or both. The school’s increasingly diverse student body benefits from access to world-renowned visiting artists and conductors, intensive study with CIM’s stellar faculty and the rich curriculum offered by CIM’s partner Case Western Reserve University. A leader among its peers, CIM presents nearly 350 free performances and master classes on campus each year, and hundreds more at locations throughout the region, including Severance Music Center. Explore www.cim.edu to learn more. 

About the Lang Lang International Music Foundation 
The Lang Lang International Music Foundation strives to educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers by encouraging music education and performance at all levels as a means of social and emotional development. For more information, visit https://langlangfoundation.org/. 

About Steinway & Sons 
Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and value. Because of a dedication to continuous improvement, today’s Steinway remains the choice of 9 out of 10 concert artists, and it is the preferred piano of countless musicians, professional and amateur, throughout the world. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.