TIME TO SHINE FOR PIANISTS
THIRD ANNUAL COMPETITION GIVES TOP AMATEURS A CHANCE TO PERFORM ONSTAGE AND WIN MONEY
On the very same stage where the renowned pianist Emanuel Ax performed just a few months ago, 30 amateur pianists will compete and, more importantly, fulfill a dream next weekend at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center’s Baker-Baum Concert Hall.
The third San Diego International Piano Competition and Festival for Outstanding Amateurs, organized by the locally based nonprofit AmateurPianists, includes keyboardists from four countries besides the U.S.: Canada, the U.K., Mexico and Belgium.
Five of the nonprofessional pianists are from San Diego. The competitors’ occupations include everything from teaching math to dentistry to anesthesiology.
One competitor this year is 86 years old.
Pianist Glenn Kramer founded AmateurPianists, which grew out of a stillextant meetup group, in 2011. The first Competition and Festival, which is held every three years, took place in 2016 at Point Loma Nazarene University.
“There are a lot of people who play piano nonprofessionally, but they only play for themselves or they play for their close friends or family,” explained Kramer. “They don’t have the opportunity that professional
2022 San Diego International Piano Competition and Festival for Outstanding Amateurs
When: June 24-26
Where: Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla
Tickets: Free
Online: amateurpianists.org
pianists have to be on the stage in front of an audience. This event is thrilling for the amateur world. It really motivates people to keep practicing.”
The competition among the 30 pianists — chosen from 39 applicants — is held over all three days, beginning Friday. Sunday also features a festival concert at 10 a.m. for amateur pianists who chose not to compete but wish to perform. The winner of the three-day competition will earn a $2,000 prize but not lose his or her amateur standing.
Contestants are judged principally on their musicality and technical ability, according to Lulu Hsu, chair of AmateurPianists, who took over that position from Kramer in 2016. The pianists select their own repertoire.
“We really don’t say that you have to play classical music,” Hsu said, “but you have to play a piece of music that’s been published. If you’re a serious pianist, you tend to study the classics. I think classical repertoire allows you to showcase your skills much more efficiently.”
In addition to being an amateur, competitors must be no younger than 25 years old. That’s not an arbitrary number.
“We reviewed the amateur competitions around the world. We looked at maybe 10,” Kramer said. “Most of them are ‘25 or older.’ It’s because people who are in their early 20s are still pursuing a professional career.”
Either that, or they’re studying their craft.
“We find that young people, especially below 18, have lots of performing opportunities,” Hsu said. “In their college years, many of them actually are in a conservatory or artistic program. They’re young musicians in training. We want to make sure we’re targeting folks who are not going to be pianists as a profession.”
That doesn’t mean that the performances next weekend will be amateurish.
“It’s extraordinary how well they play,” Kramer said.
Hsu agreed. “The caliber of playing is wonderful,” she said, “and so is the music hall premises. It’s a gem of La Jolla.”