VALERY GERGIEV

WORLD RENOWNED CONDUCTOR ANNOUNCED AS PATRON OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION

One of the world’s most sought after conductors Valery Gergiev, has graciously accepted an invitation from the Southern Highland International Piano Competition (SHIPC) to be its Artistic Patron.

Valery Gergiev is the Director of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, home to the Kirov Opera and Ballet. He is also Principal Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Principal Guest Conductor of New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

The new Maestro’s schedule for 2010 gives some indication of the power of his patronage. This week he is in Rotterdam, conducting the city’s Philharmonic in a Gergiev Festival, he has just finished conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
in London, Gstaad and Slovenia’s Ljubljana, and  the World Orchestra for Peace in both London and Salzburg. http://www.valerygergiev.info/2010.htm

One of SHIPC’S international judges Mira Yevtich - herself a living legend as concert pianist, interpreter and teacher - met with Gergiev in Vienna recently and made the offer of Artistic Patron explaining the nurturing role. “Whatever you need for the competition you may have” he replied, clearly delighted to be involved in the Australian program.

Gergiev’s involvement ensures the continued growth of SHIPC and its attraction to both sponsoring patrons and local audiences. Conceived in 2005, the awards are biennial and are open to aspiring pianists from 18 - 34 years of age.

At last month’s Regional Arts Australia Conference in Launceston a recurring topic was the need to nurture talent in local environments and to bring the best of national and world creativity to regional communities. www.junction2010.com.au

The Southern Highlands of New South Wales is achieving exactly that with SHIPC. Created by a far sighted and passionate local community with a wealth of intellect and money raising skills that  has teamed with a resident Artistic Director with impeccable musical contacts.

SHIP’s Artistic Director is composer/concert pianist Grant Foster. Trained initially as a pianist at Sydney's Conservatorium of Music and then in Paris, Foster is no stranger to the world stage. His latest Piano Sonata and Pearl of Dubai Suite are being recorded in Moscow presently. He resides in Bowral.  www.grant-foster.com

One of the world’s most innovative platforms for aspiring concert pianists is in our own back garden!

For further media information contact Rea Francis 0414250790 or rea@rfmedia.com.au