First the crafts, then the arts

There will always be lively discussions about the strong and the weak points of musical competitions. Fact is that the number of musical competitions is on the increase. Without the large competitions, in particular those in Brussels, Warsaw, Leeds, Paris, Montréal and Moscow, musical life in the world would no longer be complete or even possible.

Competitions for young musicians, apart from those for almost graduated students, take a particular stand. Participation in piano contests is an indispensable part of a thorough musical education. You will lose nothing by taking part in our competition, as you are still young and your career is not at stake yet, but you will gain a lot of experience by it. For the older students from group B (up to age 21) such a competition may be a kind of leg-up to the still larger and world famous competitions. You may sample the atmosphere, try to find out if you can keep a grip on yourself in stressful situations etc.

The repertoire of our competition consists of various musical styles – from baroque and classical to romantic and modern. Modern music is obligatory in both groups. At the same time, it is a ‘standard repertoire’, which students all over the world know and have grown up with. This makes participation in our competition rather accessible, though what matters is how you play things rather than what you play.

Before our competition, the students together with their own music teachers try to get everything in perfect order so that the contestants will play at the best of their ability during the performance. During our competition, our students meet fellow students from countries with sometimes very different traditions in musical education. They hear, at times, surprising interpretations of well-known repertoire and this is an unforgettable experience and a wonderful incentive for their musical education in the future.

A few years ago, I started the International Piano Competition for Young Musicians in Enschedé in order to motivate and stimulate my own students. I wanted the Dutch audience to know, hear and see how things go in other countries.

Meanwhile it is impossible to imagine the music scene in Twente and the Netherlands without our competition. Apart from its many educational objectives, it is of lasting value as a fantastic festival of music. Good luck to all the participants and to the music loving audience I would like to say:

Enjoy listening!

Michail Markov
Artistic director