The Indonesia International Piano Competition (IIPC) 2024, organized by Yayasan Cipta Pribadi Unggul, concluded with a spectacular Gala Concert at the H. Usmar Ismail Film Center in Kuningan, South Jakarta. Held from July 8 to 14, 2024, this event has brought immense joy and pride to classical music enthusiasts, showcasing remarkable growth and grandeur compared to previous years.

Helen Gumanti, President of IIPC, expressed her pride, stating, "I am extremely proud that this international piano competition was successfully held in Indonesia. The Indonesia International Piano Competition serves as a global stage dedicated to supporting the advancement of young international classical pianists, particularly those in Indonesia with high aspirations in their musical journeys. We are further inspired after witnessing the extraordinary talents, both from within and outside the country. We hope this event will continue to receive greater enthusiasm in the coming years, so we can support classical music in Indonesia and discover outstanding classical music talents."

The competition's mission aligns with creating an environment where talent can flourish and young musicians can reach their highest potential. Designed to be one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the Asia-Pacific region, IIPC is committed to advancing classical music and supporting the next generation of pianists in Indonesia.

This year's competition featured over 130 participants from 10 countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, the United States, Singapore, and New Zealand. The participants were judged by 11 renowned jurors from eight countries, including Andreas Frölich from Germany, Pascal Nemirovski from the UK, and Rachel Naomi Kudo from the United States. Other jurors included Benjamin Loh, Dainius Vaičekonis, Ivan Yanakov, Ji Na Kim, Mirella Petrova, and Wong Chee Yean.

The winners in each category of IIPC 2024 are as follows:

Professional Senior Category (18 – 32 years):

1st Prize:

• Michael Anthony Kwok

2nd Prize:

• Viona Natalie Sanjaya

3rd Prize:

• Ayunia Indri Saputro
• Jovine Freia Iskandar

Professional Junior Category (Under 18 years):

1st Prize:

• James Napoleon Lai

2nd Prize:

• Jacqueline Wan Ning Wang

3rd Prize:

• Michael Ethan Hoo

Amateur Category (33 years and above):

3rd Prize:

• Yuji Ueda

Senior Category (Under 18 years):

2nd Prize:

• Faervilui Fievel Xia
• Lucas Franklin Lai

3rd Prize:

• Serene Patricia

Junior Category (Under 15 years):

1st Prize:

• Maria Avril Zhuang

2nd Prize:

• Michael Phillipe Andree

Intermediate Category (Under 13 years):

1st Prize:

• Callista Kertalesmana

2nd Prize:

• Chatarina Chloe Prasetyo Handojo

3rd Prize:

• Flavian Jestin Wijaya

Category 1 (Under 10 years):

1st Prize:

• Timothy Sam Kosasih

2nd Prize:

• Claire Hartono

3rd Prize:

• Elaine Theona Phan

1st Commandment Prize:

• Ann Shereen Yao

2nd Commandment Prize:

• Charlotte Megan Budiyanto

3rd Commandment Prize:

• Edward Nathaniel Handoko

Young Promising Pianist Award:

• Cathleen Scarlett Hayasi
• Charlotte Florentine Lee
• Mary Kate Onggowijoyo

Category 2 (Under 8 years):

1st Prize:

• Hazel Everly Wantana

2nd Prize:

• Clerisse Lie

3rd Prize:

• Rebecca Shannen Lie

Young Promising Pianist Award:

• Callia Kardiono
• Canaan Jedd Nyoto
• Eugene Savio Hulay
• Gizelle Everly Wantana
• Tyra Louise Tohnika

The winners from each category highlighted the diversity of talent within the country, proving to be competitive with international participants. The success of IIPC 2024 not only marks progress in Indonesia's classical music scene but also brings hope for even better events in the future with more exciting and diverse programs.

One of the jurors, Pascal Nemirovski, remarked, "I am very impressed with the overall excellent and professional organization of this competition. The participants showed extraordinary talent, and I am confident that classical music will continue to grow. I highly appreciate IIPC for providing a platform for young pianists to develop and enhance their piano playing."

This year, IIPC also introduced several new programs that added to the event's grandeur, such as masterclasses and public piano recitals. Masterclasses were successfully held from July 10-14, 2024, by prominent jurors, while the piano recitals took place from July 10-13, 2024, featuring Andreas Frölich, Avguste Antonov, Miki Aoki, Rachel Naomi Kudo, and the participants.

With the support of the government and music enthusiasts, it is hoped that IIPC will continue to grow and become a prestigious event that makes Indonesia proud on the international stage. Let's continue to support young talented classical musicians, especially pianists from Indonesia.

For more information on how to watch and attend the event, please visit www.indonesiainternationalpianocompetition.com or follow the official Instagram account at @iipc.official.