Piano competition discovers hidden talents at SWMF

Sharjah / Emirates Business

The fourth edition of the Sharjah World Music Festival (SWMF) launched its first ever piano competition recently to find some of the most talented individuals attending the event. The contest, which is open to people of all age groups and nationalities, was an instant hit with the audience who were in awe at the quality of the players. The competition will be held daily at Al Qasba, from 7pm to 8pm and will run until January 15.
The audience were thrilled to see participants aged from 8-18 years play a number of classical pieces by the world’s most renowned and best-loved composers. The contest jury comprised Maestro Mohammed Othman Sidiq, Director of the National Music Conservatory – King Hussein Foundation, and Head of the Jordanian National Orchestra Association, and Ghadeer Abeidoh, a laureate of the Certificate of Excellence from the Federal Council of Royal Academy of Music in London. The highly distinguished and respected pair treated the audience to a duet of the fifth ‘Hungarian Dance’ by German composer Johannes Brahms.
Participants were divided into two groups of five. Every day, one participant will leave the contest, depending on the scores given by the judges. Factors that will be taken into account include mastering the instrument in accordance with the music scale, technical expertise, knowledge and preparation of the piece to be played and having an imposing and impressive presence on the stage. At the end of the competition, the festival’s management will award cash prizes for first, second and third places.
Artist Furat Qaddouri, Manager of Sharjah World Music Festival said: “It is an important part of our work that we nurture and hone the musical talents of all people from all age groups, and this is an excellent chance for the pianists to grow and hone their true talent. The piano is a wonderful instrument and the competition is the perfect way to instil a love of music within the audience and encourage them to start learning more about it”.
This year’s Sharjah World Music
Festival will celebrate a host of renowned musicians from 14 countries. They will showcase a variety of concerts that represent different cultures locally, regionally and internationally in a vibrant environment that enables the audience to enjoy the finest forms of art at some of Sharjah’s leading tourist destinations, such as Al Qasba, the Flag
Island and Al Majaz waterfront.
By organising this first of its kind festival, Furat Qaddouri Music Centre will boost the cultural and art presence of Sharjah and the UAE, introduce various musical cultures around the world to the UAE community and add a new dimension to the emirate’s repertoire of tourist, art and culture attractions.