Now in its 32nd year, the international Mozart-themed competition Amadeus, open to young pianists up to the age of 15, is a prestigious platform showcasing rising talent. While there is no lower age limit, the upper one is set at fifteen. Amadeus will see 87 children from ten countries compete. The concert showcasing young piano talents from all over Europe will take place in Besední dům.
The Amadeus competition was created as a tribute to the genius composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who performed in the hall of the Reduta in Brno at the age of eleven. "Amadeus is truly exceptional for several reasons," says its director Vladimír Halíček. "It is an international competition with a very long tradition. It is also the only competition in the world to focus exclusively on Classical-era repertoire, which is extremely challenging for young pianists. They will be judged by a panel of distinguished pianists and teachers from around the world." The Brno concert will take place on 15 November at 3:00 p.m. in Besední dům.
"Amadeus stands out for the generosity of its panel of judges, which offers personal consultations after the results are announced, and also for its excellent organisation," says Ivana Kozánková Hlavoňová, a teacher who regularly—and successfully—prepares children for the competition. Most participants and their teachers praise the opportunity to consult with the jury, the atmosphere of sharing and support, and the beautiful Petrof concert grand in a hall with wonderful acoustics.
Last year, the title of best Czech participant, one of the special panel awards, was awarded to Valentýna Ibriqi of the František Antonín Špork Elementary Art School (Lysá nad Labem, teacher Ellina Belčikova). "I’m very honoured to receive this beautiful prize. But it’s not only these wonderful awards that matter to me. This competition has brought me wonderful experiences, new friendships and deep inspiration from hearing the pieces performed by the other participants," says Valentýna. "There are many things I like about Amadeus, which motivate me to return again. I love the golden hall, the acoustics, the shimmering sound of the piano, the practice rooms, the friendly jury and the atmosphere of the whole event. I'm already looking forward to the next edition." And what's the hardest part for her? Paradoxically, the journey to get to the competition: "We are from the Elementary Art School in Lysá nad Labem, and the trip to Brno by train takes more than three hours. Sometimes the journey is really hard. I don’t consider the preparation difficult. Mozart is close to my heart; his pieces are like beautiful theatre that I set in motion with my fingers."
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