Santa Cecilia International Competition from 14 to 21 July in Porto

Porto welcomes a hundred young musicians in the context of the 21 edition of Santa Cecilia International Competition, from 14 to 21 July.

International participants from 28 countries such as China, Japan, United Stated, Brazil, Israel, South Korea and Portugal. Participants are aged between 5 and 32 years.

This year's edition starts on 14 July and concludes with a final, open to the public, on 21 July, at Sala Suggia at Casa da Música.

This competition is organised by "Curso de Música Silva Monteiro" and the jury is composed by reputed national and international experts such as Álvaro Teixeira Lopes, António Oliveira, Fausto Neves, Arminda Odete Barosa, Nelly Santos Leite, from Portugal, and Akemi Alink-Yamamoto, from japan, Carles Lama, from Spain, Dorian Leljak, from Serbia/Croatia, Fu Hong, from China, Guigla Katsarava, from Georgia, and Shao Xiao Ling, from China/Portugal.

According to the organisation, "this competition is aimed at selecting a winner in eliminatory rounds of piano, for the first time accompanied by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by maestro Osvaldo Ferreira".

Also a first, the competition integrates a Piano Marathon, from 19 to 20 July and featuring performances by all the competitors. This event is scheduled to run from noon to midnight, at the Rectory of the University of Porto. Entrance is free.

The competition is sponsored by the Government of Portugal, Porto City Hall and several entities, namely Manuel António da Mota Foundation, Eng. º António de Almeida Foundation, Sonae, KNS Classical, BPI Fundação ?La Caixa'and Bial.

Prizes worth a total of 8000 euros will be awarded to the winners in the different categories, as well as priceless opportunities regarding positive career perspectives both at national and international level. The winner will have the opportunity to edit a CD, with the KNS Classical producer.

The winner will have the opportunity to perform at Casa da Música, in the framework of cycle of recitals of Curso de Música Silva Monteiro, at Casa de Fralães, at Casa de Portugal/André Gouveia, in Paris, at Festival St. Mesnil des Arts, Moutaut de Villeréal, in France, at the Mas Brunet concerts, in France, and at the Hammerklavier concert série KNS Classical, in Barcelona.

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