The Alaska International Piano-e-Competition got underway at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday as 22 competitors drew lots to determine the order in which they would compete.
The contestants will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists after each gives a recital on a special Yamaha Disklavier piano that is electronically linked to similar pianos around the world, making it possible for listeners outside Fairbanks to hear the performances as they are being given at the university's Davis Concert Hall.
Solo recitals began on Sunday, June 29, with Sejoon Park (USA) going first, followed by Adrian Brendle (Germany), Josue Gonzalez (Costa Rica), Chen Guang (China) and Martin Leung (USA).
Preliminary rounds will continue through July 3 with pianists performing in the following order:
June 30: Shih-Wei Huang (Taiwan), Timur Mustakimov (Russia), Marianna Prjevalskaya (Spain), Yang Liu (China) and Joo Hyeon Park (South Korea).
July 1: Oxana Schevchenko (Kazakhstan/Russia), Peter Friis Johannson (Denmark/Sweden), Yinfei Wang (China), Maria Kharsel (Russia) and Pavel Gintov (Ukraine).
July 2: Ilya Maximov (Russia), Hyejin Kim (South Korea), Tuomas Kyyhkynen (Finland), Frank Dupree (Germany) and Soo-Yeon Ham (South Korea).
July 3: Alexey Chernov (Russia) and Lindsay Garritson (USA).
The announcement of the semifinalists is expected between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. on July 3. The competition will continue through July 12.
Performances for the first round are taking place 1-10 p.m. daily. Tickets and more information is available at uaf.edu/piano.
Reach Mike Dunham at mdunham@adn.com or 257-4332.
By MIKE DUNHAM