Charles Richard-Hamelin with accompanist Philip Chiu
TSO National Piano Competition
From 1982 to 2011, the TSVC sponsored a Piano Competition, and created the opportunity to encourage and foster the talent of young pianists. In the year 2000, the Piano Competition evolved into a National Piano Concerto Competition and became a biennial, prestigious event. It attracted Canada’s finest pianists between the ages of 16 and 25. Cash prizes were awarded and the first prize winner was offered an opportunity to play a complete concerto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
The 2011-2012 TSO season lineup included three guest artists who were past winners of the competition: Stewart Goodyear, Todd Yaniw, and Alexander Seredenko.
Past winners: 1992 – Stewart Goodyear; 1994 – Lisa Yui; 1995 – Sonia Chan; 1996 – Nadine Attewell; 1997 – Ilya Poletaev; 1999 – Vicky Chow; 2001 – Darrett Zusko; 2003 – Sheng Cai; 2005 – Todd Yaniw; 2007 – Rozalyn Chok; 2009 – Alexander Seredenko; 2011 – Charles Richard-Hamelin.
2011 TSO National Piano Competition
Charles Richard-Hamelin, a 21-year old Montrealer, won First Prize at the 2011 TSO National Piano Competition and the unique opportunity to perform with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Roy Thomson Hall. On Mar 23 and 24, 2013, Charles performed Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.
Watch Charles on Classical 96.3 FM.
Second Prize was awarded to 18-year old Scott MacIsaac from Calgary, who also won Best Performance of a Romantic Work. Third Prize went to another Montrealer, 24-year old Steven Massicotte.
Alexander Malikov, 22, from Calgary, won the SOCAN Foundation Award for Best Performance of a Canadian Work. Devon Joiner, 21, from Nanaimo, BC won the Victor Feldbrill Award for Best Performance of a Canadian Work.
The 2011 Competition was held at The Royal Conservatory May 27, 28 and 29. Members of the esteemed jury were: Marietta Orlov, Toronto; Isobel Rolston, Banff (Chair); Heather Slater, Calgary; Andrew Tunis, Ottawa. The Competition’s musical advisor was William Aide. View photos from the 2011 Competition.
The performers who competed in the 2011 event were: Vincent Béland-Bernard, Claudia Chan, Chairat Chongvattankij, Samuel Deason, Carol Ip, Devon Joiner, Hyoseon Sunny Kim, Connie Kim-Sheng, Christopher Kusuhara, Jocelyn Lai, Simon Larivière, Jason Lee, Scott MacIsaac, Alexander Malikov, Steven Massicotte, Charles Richard-Hamelin, Coral Solomon, Lisa Tahara, Gaspard Tanguay-Labrosse, Sarah Whynot, Nina Zhou.
2011 Prizes
First Prize:
$8,000 awarded by Roy Thomson Hall
Concerto performance with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Roy Thomson Hall
On-air interview and performance at Classical 96.3 FM
Second Prize:
$5,000 awarded by Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee
Recital in the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Third Prize:
$2,000 awarded by Bereskin and Parr LLP
Best Performance of a Romantic Work:
$1,000 awarded by Phil Sabatino in Honour of Pasquale Sabatino
SOCAN Foundation Award for the Best Performance of a Canadian Work:
$1,000 awarded by the SOCAN Foundation
Victor Feldbrill Award for Best Performance of a Canadian Work:
$500 awarded by Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee in Honour of Victor Feldbrill
Our 2011 Sponsors
