Concours Musical International de Montréal Announces 2024 Piano Participants

24 pianists will compete for a prize pool of $200,000 CAD

Canada's Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) has recently unveiled the names of the pianists who will compete at its 2024 edition, which will take place between May 5 and May 16. 388 pianists from a total of 38 different countries applied to take part, and just 24 young players were selected.

The competitors are aged between 19 and 29, hail from 12 different countries, and include four Canadians. They will compete for a prize pool totaling $200,000 CAD.

The selected pianists are as follows:

• Elias Ackerley, United Kingdom | South Korea / City of residence: Daegu
• Rachel Breen, United States / City of residence: Hannover
• JJ Jun Li Bui, Canada / City of residence: Toronto
• Michelle Candotti, Italy / City of residence: Livorno
• Tom Carré, France / City of residence: Paris
• Antonio Chen Guang, China / City of residence: Vienna
• Saeyoon Chon, South Korea / City of residence: New York
• Yungyung Guo, Hong Kong / City of residence: Shanghai
• Adrian Herpe, France | Ukraine / City of residence: Vienna
• Dina Ivanova, Russia / City of residence: Berlin
• Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, Canada / City of residence: Salmon Arm, BC
• Carter Johnson, Canada / City of residence: Hamden, CT
• Adam Kałduński, Poland / City of residence: Gdańsk
• Deawon Kim, South Korea / City of residence: Dresden
• Jakub Kuszlik, Poland / City of residence: Leipzig
• Muzi Li, China / City of residence: Berlin
• Xiaoxuan Li, China / City of residence: New York
• Arisa Onoda, Japan / City of residence: Boston
• Élisabeth Pion, Canada / City of residence: London
• Anthony Ratinov, United States / City of residence: New York
• Seungmin Shin, South Korea / City of residence: Seoul
• Gabriele Strata, Italy / City of residence: London
• Derek Wang, United States / City of residence: New York
• Angie Zhang, United States / City of residence: New York

In 2024, the CMIM jury will comprise Zarin Mehta (chair), Dmitri Alexeev, Jan Jiracek von Arnim, Lydia Artymiw, Louise Bessette, Robert Levin, Hélène Mercier, Ronan O'Hora, and Minsoo Sohn.

"Since the creation of the Concours in 2001, this is the first time that so many candidates have expressed an interest in taking part," said Chantal Poulin, the competition's Executive Director. "Once again, this record number of entries demonstrates the growing prominence and influence of the CMIM.

"We are thrilled to welcome these 24 exceptional young pianists of the new generation to Montreal," said Shira Gilbert, CMIM's Artistic Director. "Many of these musicians are already leading promising careers, with some having already claimed major prizes at other prestigious international competitions. With such a high level of artistry, we know that this year’s competition will be exciting for our live audience as well as for music lovers around the world following online."