4th Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition: Shigeru Kawai SK-EX chosen as official piano for prestigious competition

The 4th Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition took place in Lugano, Switzerland, from March 28 to 31, with the selection of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano as the official instrument for the competition.

One of Kawai’s most esteemed piano technician, MPA (Master Piano Artisan) Naoto Ichikawa from Kawai Europe, also played a pivotal role at the Epinal International Piano Competition. He and a piano technician apprentice from Japan, Shunta Amano, diligently worked on not only crafting the sound, but also contestant support through active communication.

The 4th Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition: Final Results

Category I (~12 years old)

Category II (~15 years old)

Category III (~18 years old)

Comments from prize winners

■ 1st Prize winner of Category I – Antonio PAVAN:

– How did you feel about winning the prize?
I felt that the jury’s critique definitely helped me to grow. I hope to actually incorporate it in the future. I am really happy to have won the award.

– What are your impressions of the SK-EX full concert grand piano?
The piano was really great and very easy to play. At home I play a grand piano with heavy keys, but this Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano has lighter keys and felt very comfortable for me. Overall, I had a very good impression.

■ 2nd Prize winner of Category II – Luca NEWMAN:

– How did you feel about winning the prize?
The practice room was well equipped and I was able to prepare well before the competition. The contestants and staff were very friendly and the environment was pleasant.

– What are your impressions of the SK-EX full concert grand piano?
The keys were light and very easy to play.

■ 1st Prize winner of Category III – Ivan CHEPKIN:

– How did you feel about winning the prize?
I am very happy for this opportunity. I hope that this experience will lead to a new stage in my concert and creative work.

– What are your impressions of the SK-EX full concert grand piano?
I really enjoyed playing this instrument and it was literally everything I wanted to express.

About the 4th Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition

The Jeune Chopin International Piano Competition is organized by the Frédéric Chopin Institute in Switzerland. The aim of International Piano Competition Jeune Chopin is to re-discover the music of Frédéric Chopin by young performers from all over the world and present themselves in a front of the greatest, globally-renowned Chopin interpreters, who have been and still are invited to judge at the great Frederic Chopin International Competition in Warsaw.

Official website: https://jeunechopin.com/

About the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano

Unveiled in 2001 as the flagship instrument of the Shigeru Kawai line, the SK-EX concert grand piano is hand-crafted in limited numbers following a unique ‘prototyping’ creation process. In order to achieve the supreme range of expression required in a concert piano, each instrument utilizes a variety of carefully selected materials, with premium aged spruce soundboards. Shigeru Kawai instruments adopt the advanced Millennium III keyboard action, featuring extended wooden keys and advanced ABS Carbon action parts, providing superior speed and responsiveness than conventional wooden action parts, allowing pianists to express a greater range of feeling and emotion in their performance.

Official website: https://www.shigerukawai.jp/en/