The Concours Musical International de Montréal Introduces a Junior Jury

Nine advanced piano students from Montréal conservatories will evaluate the first round of the competition and vote on a Junior Jury Prize

The Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) will commence its 2024 Piano Edition from May 5 to 16, 2024. The institution recently announced that it has established a Junior Jury, comprising nine advanced piano students from the Montréal conservatories — the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, and the Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal.

Chaired by pianist and professor Janelle Fung, the jury will evaluate the 24 pianists who appear in the competition's first round, which will take place at the Salle Bourgie on May 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2024. The junior jury members will sit alongside the senior CMIM jury and will vote on a Junior Jury Prize, valued at $1,000.

The selected young pianists are as follows:

• Joon Oh Kim, Kris Sossoulo, and Tu Linh Vu (Conservatoire de musique de Montréal)
• Dane Ko, Mai Miyagaki, and Veola Sun (Schulich School of Music at McGill University)
• Fabrizzio Vargas Saavedra, Fiona Wu, and Sara Sierra Jaramillo (Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal)

"It's an honor for me to accompany piano students on this enriching experience for their professional journey," said Janelle Fung, president of the Junior Jury. "They will also have instructive encounters with the audience, the participating pianists and the Jury, exceptional mentors. Being part of the Junior Jury is an educational opportunity that allows students to develop their critical aspect in assessing the interpretive qualities of the participants."

388 pianists from a total of 38 different countries applied to compete in the CMIM, 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.

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.