Tähe-Lee Liiv. Photo by Vahur Lõhmus

At the end of November, the 9th Estonian Piano Competition was held at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The competition comprised 27 participants in total with 6 of them reaching to the final round to perform with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jaan Ots.

The first prize of the 9th Estonian Piano Competition was shared between two awardees: the youngest competitor, 16-year old Tähe-Lee Liiv from Estonia, and Mantas Šernius from Lithuania. The third prize went to Estonian Evita Lohu. Mariin Gill, Sven-Sander Šestakov and Sofia Khvichia received finalist diplomas.

All the finalist were presented numerous special prizes, including performances with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, and the Pärnu City Orchestra.

The compulsory work in the second round of this year’s competition was a commission from composer Pärt Uusberg. The award for the best interpretation of Uusberg’s "Hingelinnutee I" was given to Lea Valiulina.

The international jury of the competition comprised acclaimed pianists and piano professors, including Graham Scott from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, Jurgis Karnavičius from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Niklas Pokki from the Sibelius Academy, Finland, and Ivari Ilja together with Mati Mikalai from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.