First ever piano competition to unveil hidden talents at Sharjah World Music Festival

The fourth edition of the Sharjah World Music Festival, SWMF, has launched its first ever piano recital contest to find some of the most talented individuals in this sphere. The contest, open to people of all age groups and nationalities, has been an instant hit from the beginning. This year’s competition is held daily from 7 to 8 in the evening at Al Qasba and will run till 15th January.

This year’s event will also host renowned musicians from 14 countries who will give a number of concerts, representing different cultures.

The audience has been thrilled to listen to participants, aged 8-18, playing several classical pieces created by most renowned and best-loved composers. The jury comprises Maestro Mohammed Othman Sidiq, Director of the National Music Conservatory - King Hussein Foundation, and Head of the Jordanian National Orchestra Association, and Ghadeer Abeidoh, a laureate with the Certificate of Excellence from the Federal Council of Royal Academy of Music in London. The highly distinguished and respected pair also treated the audience to a duet of the fifth "Hungarian Dance" by German composer Johannes Brahms.

Participants are split into two groups of five each and each day, one will leave the contest, based on the scores given by the judges. The criteria taken into account include mastering the instrument, technical expertise, knowledge and preparation of the piece to be played and having an imposing and impressive on-stage presence. At the end of the competition, the festival’s management will award cash prizes to the top three contestants.

"It is an important part of our work that we nurture and hone the musical talents of all people from all age groups, and this is an excellent chance for the pianists to grow and hone their true talent. The piano is a wonderful instrument and the competition is the perfect way to instil a love of music within the audience and encourage them to start learning more about it," said artiste Furat Qaddouri, Manager of Sharjah World Music Festival.

By organising this first-of-its-kind music festival, Furat Qaddouri Music Centre has also boosted the cultural presence of Sharjah and the UAE, introduced various musical cultures from around the world to the UAE community and added a new dimension to the emirate’s repertoire of tourist, art and culture attractions.

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