Details have been announced of the inaugural Charles Wadsworth Piano Competition for pianists aged 18 to 25 in early stages of career development. The competition will take place from April 22 to 25 at the Donald W. Nixon Centre for the Visual and Performing Arts in Newnan, Georgia, and eight semifinalists will participate: Nadia Azzi, Hilda Huang, Aristo Sham, Zhiheng Guo, Dominic Cheli, Michael Davidman, Angie Zhang, and Peng Lin. Named after pianist Charles Wadsworth, a native of Newnan, Georgia, the competition honors Wadsworth’s legacy through his work as founding director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and former artistic director of the Spoleto Festival USA. The competition will be adjudicated by jurors Anne-Marie McDermott, Pedja Muzijevic, and Jeffrey Swann. Semifinalists will perform a 40-50 minute program of their choosing, and three finalists will perform a Romantic-era concert piece of their choosing, as well as a piano quintet in collaboration with the Aeolus Quartet. The competition will award a $15,000 first prize, $7,500 second prize, and $5,000 third prize. Awards of $1,000 apiece will also be given for contemporary music achievement and chamber music achievement.
Posted March 29, 2018
