2024 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition
Established in 1999 in honour of one of the world’s most respected concert pianists and teachers, the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year, selecting the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand as the official competition piano.
Comprising one competition for adult performers and a second, the Young Lev Piano Competition for juniors, entrants were auditioned in Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane, and Melbourne. From a record number of entrants, 20 participants advanced to the semi-finals, before three finalists competed in the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Benjamin Northey.
First Prize winner Reuben Tsang's reflection on his performance
The incredibly talented Reuben Tsang shone with his performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto and reflects:
“It was very interesting to play this piano across multiple venues during the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. In the first round, I performed this piano in the Ian Hanger Recital Hall. In this space, I also had the chance to hear the piano from the audience’s perspective… the piano filled the entire hall with such boldness and vibrancy, which was a totally unique and remarkable listening experience.
For my semi-final performance in the QSO Studios, I distinctly remember how much clarity and depth I could get in the sound of the piano, which made me feel grounded. I found that the piano barely had any limitations in achieving desired expressions. I felt very much at home and free to indulge in the richness of the sound.
It was also a great privilege to perform Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with Benjamin Northey conducting the QSO. Again, I felt that the Shigeru Kawai greatly facilitated in achieving a bold and well-rounded sound necessary for this glorious piece of music.
I also chose to play on the Shigeru Kawai for my semi-final round in the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition, so this piano really appeals to me in many ways.”
Artistic Directors Oleg Stepanov and Natasha Vlassenko praise the instrument’s “beautiful and powerful sound, clarity of articulation, great projection and brilliancy,” adding that “these qualities enormously helped young performers to fully realise their artistic potential.”
Kawai Australia’s General Manager, Warrick Baker, is proud to support Australian and New Zealand pianists through the Lev Vlassenko events. After another successful tour for the SK-EX concert grand, he says:
“The Lev Vlassenko organisation has created a platform for young Australian pianists to build international performance careers since its inception in 1999, when Kawai was the founding partner. We are delighted to have our Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand chosen as the official piano to celebrate the 25th Anniversary.”
Reuben Tsang's winning performance - Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto
Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Full Concert Grand Piano at The Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition & Festival and Young Lev Competition 2024
Our Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Concert grand piano was unveiled in 2001 as the flagship instrument of the Shigeru Kawai line, the SK-EX concert grand piano is hand-crafted in limited numbers following a unique ‘prototyping’ creation process. In order to achieve the supreme range of expression required in a concert piano, each instrument utilises a variety of carefully selected materials, with premium aged spruce soundboards. Shigeru Kawai instruments adopt the advanced Millennium III keyboard action, featuring extended wooden keys and advanced ABS Carbon action parts, providing superior speed and responsiveness than conventional wooden action parts, allowing pianists to express a greater range of feeling and emotion in their performance.
