Hilton Head Island

The eight annual Hilton Head International Piano Competition will be held in Hilton Head Island on March 9-16. The competition is one of seven international piano competitions held around the country, and the only one of its kind offered in the Southeast.

A total of $26,000 in cash will be awarded to the top three winners. In addition, the first-place winner will be awarded a concerto performance with the Hilton Head Orchestra during the 2003-2004 season and a New York recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. The five semi-finalists who do not advance to the Finals will be awarded $1,000 each.

This year's competition jury of five is being chaired by Joseph Banowetz. Banowetz is an internationally renowned pianist and much sought after Juror for major international piano competitions. Along with performing and judging, he serves on the artist-faculty of the University of North Texas College of Music.

The other jurors are: Ann Schein, a highly acclaimed pianist with 20 years experience on the piano faculty of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and an artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival; Mikhail Voskresensky, one of the leading professors of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire and president of the Scriabin International Society; Edith Finton Rieber, founder and president of the Scriabin Society of America and an active performer and lecturer; and Enrique Graf, artist in residence at the College of Charleston and artist-lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University with an extensive record of performances throughout the world.

The grand finale of the competition is the finals round March 16 at 7 p.m. At this event, the three finalists will perform a concerto of his or her choosing accompanied by the Hilton Head Orchestra under the direction of Maestra Mary Woodmansee Green. The winners and the audience choice winner will be announced after the concert.

The competition's quarter-finals, March 10-11, the semi-finals, March 13-14 and the master classes, March 12, are free and open to the public. Tickets for the Gala Opening March 9 are $75 and for the March 16 finals are $30.

These can be purchased at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina box office, (843) 842-ARTS.

Reservations are requested for the Red Piano Art Gallery Reception for Patrick McCay on March 15.

McCay was commissioned to create a painting for the cover of the 2003 application brochure and competition program. The mixed-media painting," Cadmium Concerto," will be on exhibit during the competition and the master classes. McCay's paintings, including "Cadmium Concerto," will be shown at the Red Piano Art Gallery, Cordillo Parkway, March 5-31. A reception to meet the artist will be hosted by the Red Piano Art Gallery March 15, 6-8:00 p.m. Call (843) 785-2318 for reservations.

The Hilton Head International Piano Competition is sponsored by Youths' Friends Association under the auspices of the Hilton Head Orchestra, with support from Kathleen Rowley and Dr. John and Geneva Griz.

For full details, call the Hilton Head International Piano Competition Office at (843) 842-5880, email hhipcpr@aol.com or log onto www.hhipc.org.