Canada’s Honens International Piano Competition has announced the appointment of pianist Jon Kimura Parker as Artistic Director beginning January 2018.
“Jon Kimura Parker, apart from being one of the most highly respected pianists and teachers in the world, is a Canadian icon,” said Honens President Neil Edwards in a press release statement.
Born in Vancouver, Parker is one of Canada’s most respected pianists, not only in Classical music, but Jazz as well. Parker first became affiliated with Honens as member of the jury in 1992 and 2012 competitions. Besides a busy tour schedule, he is Professor of Piano at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston.
“Honens represents the highest standards of what a piano competition should be. The triennial Competition and annual Festival have become focal points of artistic and musical expression for the city of Calgary and, indeed, for all of Canada. Having performed in Calgary for more than 30 years, I have always been met with the warmest possible welcome and a sense of joy in discovering the artistic possibilities of great piano music,” said Jon Kimura Parker. “I am absolutely thrilled to become the Artistic Director of Honens. This is a beautifully run organization dedicated to increasing awareness about the vast riches of piano music and to identifying young musicians who have artistic vision.”
The Honens International Piano Competition was started in Calgary in 1991 and was funded in part by a gift by philanthropist Esther Honens. Between its inaugural year and 2000, it took place every four years. It switched to a three-year cycle in 2000 and awards a top prize of $100,000 CAN.
The next competition will take place in 2018 between August 30 to September 8.
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