21/May/2014. The Governing Board of the Provincial Council of Valencia ratified the agreement with the Hortensia Herrero Foundation to enable a support line for Valencian pianists to participate in the twelfth International Piano Course of Valencia “Iturbi Course”.
Under the agreement approved, the Hortensia Herrero Foundation will bear the costs of tuition and accommodation, amounting to 550 euros per pupil, to six Valencian pianists selected on the basis of merit by the artistic director of the Iturbi Course, Mr. Joaquín Soriano.
Mr. Soriano, professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Madrid, will lead the lectures with the collaboration of the Russian pianist, settled in Italy, Boris Petrushansky.
The course will be held at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo from 14 to 18 July. Active students of the course will participate in the final recital to be organised in Valencia, at La Beneficència Cultural Centre, on 19 July.
The six grants provided by the Hortensia Herrero Foundation are in addition to another 10 usually awarded by the Provincial Council of Valencia to students selected by teachers of the course for travel and accommodation expenses in Valencia. The Provincial Council’s aids amount to 300 euros per pianist.
Direct access to the Iturbi Prize for the best three students
As a novelty, teachers may also select up to three pianists this year to have direct participation in the Iturbi Prize in September 2015. If the merits and the CV of three of the students are considered suitable by teachers, three students in the course will participate in the international competition without having to pass the preselection phase.
The call for applications for the Iturbi Course is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Valencia and the requirements can also be found on the website of the Provincial Government.
Registration period open until 30 June
The international seminar will address the interpretation and analysis of the piano repertoire from Bach to contemporary music.
Pianists of any nationality who are under 30 years of age on the 30 June 2014, included, may participate in the course. The deadline for submission of applications to participate in the course is now open and ends on 30 June.