Dallas Chamber Symphony and Meadows School Host Fourth Annual Dallas International Piano Competition at SMU, March 9-12

Event includes public master classes by Carol Leone, associate professor of piano at SMU Meadows, and John Perry, professor of music at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto

Dallas Chamber Symphony, in partnership with the Meadows School of the Arts, will host the fourth annual Dallas International Piano Competition March 9-12 in Caruth Auditorium, 6101 Bishop Blvd. on the SMU campus. The event will showcase the talents of young professional and preprofessional pianists.

The winner will make his or her debut during DCS’s 2016-17 season.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to Dallas International Piano Competition 2016 – Dallas Chamber Symphony. General admission is $15-$35.

The schedule is:

MASTERCLASS WITH DR. CAROL LEONE

Associate Professor of Piano and Chair of the Keyboard Dept., Meadows School of the Arts

7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 9

Up to six pianists are chosen from the field of candidates to participate in the masterclass, taught by distinguished faculty. Audiences are welcome to observe these public piano lessons.

ROUND 1 QUARTERFINALS

9 a.m. - 5:40 p.m. Thursday, March 10

Each of the 18 quarterfinalists shall receive a maximum performance time of 20 minutes in Round 1. Contestants perform their repertoires for piano and orchestra, accompanied by a second pianist who performs the orchestral reduction. Judges may stop each contestant at any time to ask for different movements or sections. Round 1 results will be announced at 6 p.m.

ROUND 2 SEMIFINALS

5-8:40 p.m. Friday, March 11

Each of the nine semifinalists shall perform a 30-minute recital of repertoire for piano solo. Round 2 results will be announced at 9 p.m.

MASTER CLASS WITH JOHN PERRY

Professor of Music at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto

3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12

Four pianists selected from among the applicants will participate in this masterclass with John Perry. Students, music educators and general public audiences are welcome to observe these public piano lessons, which focus on solo repertoire.

ROUND 3 – FINALS

6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12

Each of the five finalists shall perform his or her chosen competition piece for piano and orchestra in its entirety without interruption, accompanied by a second pianist who performs the orchestral reduction. There are no time limits in the final round. Winners are announced at the conclusion of Round 3.

AWARD CEREMONY & WINNERS’ RECITAL

Each of the winners of the Dallas International Piano Competition will perform a brief solo encore at the conclusion of the ceremony.

ABOUT DALLAS CHAMBER SYMPHONY

Named Best of Big D 2014 by D Magazine, and Best Classical Music Addition 2013 by the Dallas Observer, the Dallas Chamber Symphony is one of the most exciting and innovative professional performance ensembles in North Texas. Led by Artistic Director and Conductor Richard McKay, it is comprised of 40 musicians, all dedicated to performing a balance of programs that include underrepresented and standard repertory, contemporary music, staged works, and pieces with extra-musical elements, such as film, actors, and dancers.

The DCS performs at the City Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District, and provides educational and community programming, including an annual International Piano Competition at SMU, field-trip concerts for area school districts, and Sight of Sound, an annual international film competition. For more information, visit here.