I’m publishing a rare ‘mid-week’ post in order to highlight a forthcoming event which may be of interest. The Birmingham International Piano Competition (BIPC) is making a welcome return after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. In this post, Administrative Director, Ella Lee, writes about this exciting competition.
The BIPC has a legacy going back to 1979 when it was founded by, and later named after, Gladys Lily Brant. Ms. Brant administered the Brant Competition in the city for nearly two decades. The administration then passed to Town Hall/Symphony Hall, and in 2017 the event was rebranded as Birmingham International Piano Competition before being inherited by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, in November 2021. The RBC’s very own Piano Faculty tutors Mark Bebbington and Di Xiao are both previous winners, as well as a whole host of recognised names in the industry.
Artistic Director Professor John Thwaites and I collaborated to envision this year’s competition. We considered the long break when planning. We felt it should embody the essence of the Conservatoire. It should offer a unique atmosphere that challenges everyone to excel. Yet, it must maintain an undercurrent of support and community. It seemed a natural fit for the Competition’s new home to be Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, given that it plays a major role in Birmingham’s musical landscape. With free-choice programming allowing competitors to exercise their creative muscles in ways not often offered by other competitions, we felt strongly that we wanted BIPC to be as friendly an experience as possible – one that celebrates the keyboard stars of the future and encourages supportive surroundings, even whilst competing. Ultimately, we are very happy that the competition is able to continue running, so as to provide further opportunity for young pianists to be heard.
The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire moved into a brand-new building in 2017 and has already welcomed a myriad of world-class artists in the few short years since its opening. The Second and Final Rounds will take place in front of a live audience and the Jury. Competitors will be able to take advantage of the conservatoire’s state-of-the-art performance facilities. These include an exceptional fleet of concert grand pianos. We hope that those who take part in Birmingham will feel supported by the BIPC. We aim to help them play at their best on the day. We also want them to take something from the experience that will aid them in some way going forward. The pandemic hit many musicians and musical organisations hard. Now, it’s even more important to support young musicians. We must provide them with opportunities for growth.
