IGPA 2022
Jurors
Nomination Jury
Dmitri Levkovich
Nomination Jury
Canadian-Ukranian pianist and composer Dmitri Levkovich was born into both avocations. His performances were praised for “artistic sophistication far above the ordinary” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and “understanding of the music far beyond most young pianists” (American Record Guide). His original compositions were reviewed in the Philadelphia’s Broad Street Review – “…the musician could jump right into the heartfelt melodies and big emotional surges of Levkovich’s slow movement. “
Recent performance highlights include Grieg Concerto with Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Liszt First Piano Concerto at the Great Hall of Berlin Philharmie, a debut at Ravinia Festival and 2nd International Mariinsky Far East Festival. Dmitri was featured in ARTE TV’s “Stars of Tomorrow” and “Living the Classical Life” interview series. His debut recording of Rachmaninoff’s 24 Preludes was met with worldwide critical acclaim and earned a nomination for the 2016 International Classical Music Award.
Dmitri honed his skills on the piano under the guidance of Sergei Babayan for eleven years and in composition at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, USA. He is the winner of more than a dozen international piano competitions, including the China, Cleveland, Gina Bachauer, Jose Iturbi, Vendôme Prize and last not least the International German Piano Award in 2013. Dmitri has earned numerous “audience favorite” awards and special prizes, notably for best performance of Chopin’s works.
In the fall of 2021, Dmitri toured Switzerland with Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto, performing in Basel and Bern. The same season, his performances of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1 with Sinfonia Toronto and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra (at Frankfurt’s Alte Oper) have been streamed with great success worldwide.
Yekwon Sunwoo
Nomination Jury
Laureate of the International German Piano Award 2015 and Gold medallist of the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yekwon Sunwoo has been hailed for his “unfailingly consistent excellence” (International Piano) and celebrated as “a pianist who commands a comprehensive technical arsenal that allows him to thunder without breaking a sweat” (Chicago Tribune). A powerful and virtuosic performer, he also, in his own words, “strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music”.
Born in Anyang, South Korea, Yekwon began learning the piano at the age of 8 and made his recital and orchestral debuts in Seoul at 15. His teachers include Seymour Lipkin, Robert McDonald, Richard Goode and Bernd Goetzke.
In 2017, Decca Gold released Cliburn Gold 2017 two weeks after Yekwon was awarded the Gold Medal which also includes his award-winning performances of Ravel’s La Valse and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Sonata.
Yekwon performed with the the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Chambre de Paris, KBS Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Tuscon Symphonies, Bucheon Philharmonic as well as with the Washington Chamber Orchestra, Royal Danish Orchestra, Danish Radio Orchestra, Houston Symphony, National Orchestra of Belgium, Sendai Philharmonic, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra amongst others. He made a guest appearance at the Vail Festival with the Dallas Symphony, his recital highlights include Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Salle Cortot, Kumho Art Hall, Four Season Arts, and San Antonio Arts.
An avid chamber musician, Yekwon’s collaborators include Benjamin Beilman, Linus Roth, Andrei Ioniță, Sebastian Bohren, Isang Enders, Tobias Feldmann, Gary Hoffman, Anne-Marie McDermott, and the Jerusalem and Brentano Quartets. He has also toured Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama with the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, performed at Chamber Music of Lincoln Center’s Inside Chamber Music Lectures and was invited to the Summit Music, Bowdoin International, and Toronto Summer Music Festivals.
A self-proclaimed foodie, Yekwon enjoys finding Pho in each city he visits and takes pride in his own homemade Korean soups.
Laureate Jury
Dmitry Ablogin
Laureate Jury
Dmitry Ablogin wurde von der Presse bereits als „einer der brillantesten und kreativsten Tastenkünstler seiner Generation“ qualifiziert. Er studierte Klavier bei Vladimir Tropp an der Gnessin-Akademie in Moskau und schloss seine Ausbildung dort 2012 mit Auszeichnung ab. Sein ausgeprägtes Interesse für historische Klaviere führte ihn an die Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main, wo er bei Jesper Bøje Christensen Hammerklavier studierte und seine künstlerische Ausbildung mit dem Konzertexamen beschloss.
Dmitry Ablogin ist Preisträger zahlreicher Klavierwettbewerbe: 1. Internationaler Chopin-Wettbewerb für historische Instrumente Warschau 2018, Internationaler Klavierwettbewerb Nikolai Rubinstein (Paris), Internationaler Pianistenwettbewerb zum Gedenken an Vera Lotar-Shevchenko (Nowosibirsk), German Piano Open (Hannover) und Internationaler Wettbewerb „Musica Antiqua“ für Pianoforte (Brügge). Im Oktober 2021 gewann er den 10. Internationalen Deutschen Pianistenpreis und gab sein Debüt in der Alten Oper Frankfurt mit dem 4. Klavierkonzert von Ludwig van Beethoven.
Dmitry Ablogin ist bei den Festivals „Chopin and his Europe“ (Warschau) und „Miami International Piano Festival“ (USA) aufgetreten und konzertierte in Deutschland, Dänemark, Frankreich, Italien, Polen, Russland und in der Schweiz. Als kammermusikalischer Partner tritt er regelmäßig mit dem Eliot-Streichquartett, dem Henschel-Quartett, Alena Baeva, Maryana Osipova, Aylen Pritchin, Alexander Rudin und der Sopranistin Kateryna Kasper auf. Dmitry Ablogin unterrichtet Klavier und Hammerklavier an der Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main.
Als Teil seines Gewinns des 10. Internationalen Deutschen Pianistenpreises 2021 erscheint im Dezember 2022 sein CD-Doppelalbum mit den Diabelli-Variationen von Ludwig van Beethoven gespielt auf einem Fazioli-Konzertflügel sowie einem Streicher Fortepiano – beim 11. Internationalen Deutschen Pianistenpreis 2022 bereits exklusiv erhätlich.
Dmitry Ablogin has already been qualified by the press as “one of the most brilliant and creative keyboard artists of his generation”. He studied piano with Vladimir Tropp at the Gnessin Academy in Moscow, where he graduated with honors in 2012. His keen interest in historical pianos led him to the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (University of Music and Performing Arts) in Frankfurt on the Main, where he studied fortepiano with Jesper Bøje Christensen and concluded his artistic training with the concert exam.
Dmitry Ablogin is a laureate of numerous piano competitions: 1st International Chopin Competition for Historical Instruments Warsaw 2018, International Piano Competition Nikolai Rubinstein (Paris), International Pianists Competition in Memory of Vera Lotar-Shevchenko (Novosibirsk), German Piano Open (Hannover) and International Competition “Musica Antiqua” for Pianoforte (Bruges). In October 2021, he won the 10th International German Pianist Award and made his debut at the Alte Oper Frankfurt with the 4th Piano Concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Dmitry Ablogin has performed at the festivals “Chopin and his Europe” (Warsaw) and “Miami International Piano Festival” (USA) and has given concerts in Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Switzerland. As a chamber music partner he regularly performs with the Eliot String Quartet, Henschel Quartet, Alena Baeva, Maryana Osipova, Aylen Pritchin, Alexander Rudin and soprano Kateryna Kasper. Dmitry Ablogin teaches piano and fortepiano at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts.
As part of his winning the 10th International German Pianist Award 2021, his double CD album of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations played on a Fazioli concert grand as well as a string fortepiano will be released in December 2022—already exclusively available at the 11th International German Pianist Award 2022.
Patrick Maximilian Andre Esser
Laureate Jury
Patrick Esser zählt zur jungen Garde erfolgreicher Programmdirektoren in Deutschland. In seiner ersten Saison als Leiter des Künstlerischen Betriebsbüros des Festspielhauses Baden-Baden, dem größten Opern- und Konzerthaus Deutschlands, setzte er in der fast 25-jährigen Geschichte des Hauses eine komplett neue Programmstruktur um und revolutionierte damit die künstlerische Ausrichtung des Festspielhauses.
Als Zögling von Giuseppe Sinopoli kam er schon früh mit der Welt der Oper in Berührung. Noch während seines Studiums der Musiktheaterwissenschaften an der Universität Bayreuth sammelte er wertvolle Erfahrungen an den Opernhäusern von Zürich und Leipzig, der Staatsoper Berlin, der Bayerischen Staatsoper, den Bayreuther Festspielen sowie verschiedenen hochkarätigen Musikfestivals.
Patrick Esser hat als Programmdirektor zudem einen ständigen Sitz im Gremium der European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO).
Josep Caballé-Domenech
Laureate Jury
In seiner zwölften Saison als Musikdirektor des Colorado Springs Philharmonic (USA) und seit 2018 als Chefdirigent des Moritzburg Festival Orchesters (Deutschland) genießt Caballé-Domenech die Kombination einer intensiven Karriere in Oper und Konzert. Ehemaliger Generalmusikdirektor der Staatskapelle Halle (2013-18), Künstlerischer Leiter des Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (2018) und Erster Gastdirigent der Norköping Symphony (2005-07).
Josep Caballé-Domenech wurde in Barcelona in eine Musikerfamilie geboren. Neben dem Studium von Klavier, Schlagzeug, Gesang und Violine absolvierte er ein Dirigierstudium in Wien, Schweden und Aspen. Zu seinen Mentoren zählen Sergiu Comisiana, Jorma Panula, David Zinman und Sir Colin Davis.
In his twelfth season as Music Director of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic (USA) and since 2018 as Principal Conductor of the Moritzburg Festival Orchestra (Germany), Caballé-Domenech enjoys the combination of an intense career in opera and concert. Former general music director of the Staatskapelle Halle (2013-18), artistic director of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (2018), and principal guest conductor of the Norkoeping Symphony (2005-07).
Josep Caballé-Domenech was born in Barcelona into a family of musicians. In addition to studying piano, percussion, voice, and violin, he completed conducting studies in Vienna, Sweden, and Aspen. His mentors include Sergiu Comisiana, Jorma Panula, David Zinman, and Sir Colin Davis.
Maestro Juri Gilbo
Laureate Jury
A frequent guest with orchestras around the globe, Juri Gilbo is one of Russia’s foremost and distinguished conductors on the international scene. Mr. Gilbo’s intention is to bring music’s spirit to his audience, reaching levels above mere entertainment.
He has been music director and principal conductor of the Russian Chamber Philharmonic St. Petersburg since 1998 and is credited with building this orchestra to the high standard it enjoys today.
Born in St. Petersburg, his studies took him to the well-known St. Petersburg State Conservatory and subsequently to the University for Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt, Germany. He studied viola with the celebrated German violist Tabea Zimmermann and conducting with Luigi Sagrestano.
Gilbo made his conducting debut in 1997. Since then, his concerts have taken him to the USA, Europe, Latin America, Japan, China, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and the UAE.
Standing ovations have celebrated Gilbo and his orchestra in sold-out halls such as the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the Salzburg Festival House, the Munich Philharmonic Hall, Tonhalle Zurich, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Koningin Elisabeth Zaal Antwerp, Alte Oper Frankfurt, the Bayreuth Opera House, el Teatro National de Costa Rica and Istanbul Is Sanat.
Juri Gilbo also regularly collaborates with renowned world class soloists including Nigel Kennedy, Mischa Maisky, Vadim Repin, Sir James Galway, Edita Gruberova, Fazil Say, Giora Feidman, Martin Stadtfeld, Sergej Nakariakov, Gabor Boldoczki, Nikolai Tokarev, Lilya Zilberstein, Michael Barenboim, Ute Lemper, Nils Landgren, Ksenija Sidorova, Elena Bashkirova und Richard Galliano.
He has performed in the many international festivals, including Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany), Istanbul Festival and Izmir Festival (Turkey), Al Bustan Festival Beirut (Lebanon), Brno Music Festival (Czech Republic), Batumi Music Festival (Georgia), Les Nuits Musicales du Suquet (France), Saas-Fee Music Summer (Switzerland), Buxton Festival, West Belfast Festival, Chichester Festival, Truro Music Festival and Lichfield Festival (United Kingdom).
Juri Gilbo having received the “Editor’s Choice” award from Gramophone magazine for his latest SONY MUSIC production with the works of Carl Maria von Weber.
Gerald Mair
Laureate Jury
Gerald Mair ist einer der begabtesten jungen österreichischen Dirigenten seiner Generation. Er hat bereits ein umfangreiches Repertoire vom Barock bis zum 20. Jahrhundert dirigiert. Ein Höhepunkt war seine Konzertreihe mit sämtlichen Sinfonien, Solokonzerten und Ouvertüren von Beethoven 2016 im berühmten Barockstift Lambach.
Das von Mair selbst gegründete Sinfonieorchester “Klangvereinigung Wien” (klangvereinigung.at) konzertierte bereits nicht nur in den bekannten Wiener Konzertsälen, wie im Februar 2020, als das Orchester unter seiner Leitung Teil der Jeunesse-Abonnementkonzerte im Konzerthaus Wien war, sondern auch international. Bereits im Alter von 24 Jahren wurde er zum Chefdirigenten des Sinfonieorchesters Lienz (sinfonieorchester-lienz.at) ernannt, mit dem er regelmäßig Abonnementkonzerte gibt und auch außerhalb Tirols gastiert.
Darüber hinaus assistierte Gerald Mair mehrere Jahre bei den Opernfestspielen in Gars am Kamp (Niederösterreich). Opern wie “Der Freischütz”, “Don Carlo”, “Otello”, “Die Zauberflöte” und “Fidelio” wurden dort in den letzten Jahren aufgeführt. Im Juni 2018 betreute er eine Produktion von Richard Strauss’ “Eine Alpensinfonie”, ein ambitioniertes Kooperationsprojekt mit den Hofer Symphonikern.
Der gebürtige Tiroler begann seine musikalische Laufbahn im Alter von 7 Jahren mit Klavierunterricht, doch schließlich wurde der Kontrabass zu seinem Hauptinstrument. Sein Studium an der Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien schloss er mit den Fächern Kontrabass und Musikpädagogik mit dem Schwerpunkt „Dirigieren“ ab. Zusätzlich absolvierte er ein vertieftes Dirigierstudium bei Manfred Huss, der ihn in die Lehre von Hans Swarowsky einführte. Weiters assistierte er Manfred Huss bei Konzerten und CD-Produktionen mit der Haydn Sinfonietta Wien (auf historischen Instrumenten), um Erfahrungen und Kenntnisse in der historischen Aufführungspraxis zu sammeln.
Gerald Mair war mehrmals Gastschüler von Christoph von Dohnányi, bei Konzerten des Philharmonia Orchestra London, sowie den Wiener Symphonikern und besuchte Meisterkurse bei Ralph Weikert und Johannes Wildner, die sich vor allem dem Opernrepertoire widmeten.
Gerald Mair is one of the very talented young Austrian conductors of his generation. He has already conducted a large-scale repertoire from the age of Baroque to the 20th century. A highlight was his concert series of the complete symphonies, solo concerts and overtures by Beethoven in 2016 at the famous baroque monastery of Lambach.
The symphony orchestra “Klangvereinigung Wien” (klangvereinigung.at), founded by Mair himself, has already performed not only in Vienna’s well-known concert halls, like in February 2020, when under his direction the Klangvereinigung Wien was part of the Jeunesse subscription concerts at Konzerthaus Wien, but also internationally. Already at the age of 24, he was appointed as chief conductor of the Symphony Orchestra Lienz (sinfonieorchester-lienz.at), with whom he performs regular subscription concerts and is touring also outside of Tyrol.
Moreover, for several years Gerald Mair has assisted at the opera festival in Gars am Kamp (Lower Austria). Operas like “Der Freischütz”, “Don Carlo”, “Otello”, “The Magic Flute” and “Fidelio” have been performed in the recent years. In June 2018 he took care of a production of Richard Strauss’ “An Alpine Symphony”, an ambitious cooperation project with the Hofer Symphoniker.
Born in Tyrol, he started his musical career at the age of 7 with piano lessons, but after all the double bass has become his main instrument. He graduated from the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna after comprehensive studies in double bass, conducting and music education. In addition, he pursues an in-depth study in conducting with Manfred Huss, who introduced him into the doctrine of Hans Swarowsky. Further on he assisted Manfred Huss in concerts and CD productions with the Haydn Sinfonietta Wien (on period instruments) to gather experience and knowledge in the historical performance practice.
Several times Gerald Mair has been a guest student of Christoph von Dohnányi, during concerts of the Philharmonia Orchestra London and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and attended master courses by Ralph Weikert and Johannes Wildner, which were mainly dedicated to the opera repertoire.
Prof. Wolfram Schmitt-leonardy
Laureate Jury
Next to his Music Director positions with the ONPL in France and NYO- Canada, Goetzel currently holds the Principle Guest Conductor position of the Sofia Philharmonic and applies his same gifts as an orchestra builder, improving the caliber of the ensemble and burnishing its reputation.
During his 11 season tenure as Principle Conductor and Artistic Director of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, he contributed significantly to the ensemble. His imaginative programming, award- winning recordings, and widely praised performances—including tours to the Salzburg Festival, BBC Proms, Royal Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, and Hong Kong Arts Festival—are among his notable accomplishments.
Over the last years, Goetzel has been a highly sought-after guest conductor with a number of internationally prominent orchestras like the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre National de France, Yuomiuri Symphony Orchestra, Toyko Metropolitan Orchestra, Munich Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Tonkünstler Orchestra, Orchestre, Orchestre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, and Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna—collaborating with major soloists, among them Daniil Trifonov, Rudolf Buchbinder, Joyce Di Donato, Yuja Wang, Nemanja Radulovic, Maxim Vengerov, Julian Rachlin, Fatma Said, Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Bryan Terfel, Brandford Marsalis and Murray Perahia, among many others.
A dynamic, charismatic, and compelling musical presence on the podium, Sascha Goetzel has emerged as a multifaceted conductor—a remarkable orchestra builder, creative programmer, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate for musicians and artists. He is currently serving as
Music Director of the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, a post he has taken on for an initial four-year term beginning in September 2022. In addition he has been appointed the position as Music Director of the NYO-CAN, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada from summer 2022.
In 2014, he made an electric debut at the Vienna State Opera conducting Le Nozze di Figaro, which led to six return engagements—productions of Flute and Rosenkavalier de Rennes, Fledermaus, La Bohème, Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, Magic in Tokyo’s Bunka Kaikan, Opéra de Nantes-Angers, Opera. Goetzel has also appeared at the Mariinsky Theatre, Zürich Opera House, Tokyo Metropolitan Opera, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Company Wiener Volksoper, and Opéra de Montpellier.
Goetzel has released several Award winning CDs in both, orchestral and as partner for Solo concerti/Arias including winning albums on the Deutsche Grammophon, WARNER, Onyx and Naïve labels featuring works by Hindemith, Bartok, Schulhoff,, Berlioz, Turnage, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov and Respighi.
Committed to music education and an advocate for the arts in general, Goetzel is founder of the ORPHEUS- WIEN foundation for the digital transformation of the arts, Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Opera by the Fjord Academy and Festival, an innovative academy and festival for aspiring singers and instrumentalists in partnership with the Bergen National Opera. Co-founder and CCO of the Vienna Art Network, Artistic Director of Music for Peace (El Sistema-Turkey) and a conducting mentor at Dirigentloftet, a program in Norway focused on developing young conductors;.