Contest's quality known world over

"Every international competition I know is better known outside the city where it happens than it is in its own home," said Andrew Raeburn, president and artistic director of the Honens competition in Calgary.

That statement may also be true for the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition.

For 30 years, Utahns have enjoyed the enriching experience of having the finest pianists from around the world gather in Salt Lake City to display their artistry and skills.

We enjoy it, but how big of a deal is it really? "As for its reputation in the world, it's very high," said Raeburn.

Karen Knowlton, executive director of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, agrees. "There's five piano competitions in North America that are members of the World Federation of Music Competitions," Knowlton said. "Bachauer, Van Cliburn, Honens in Calgary, William Kapell in Maryland and us."

All of them adhere to high standards, she said, and all are recognized internationally as significant. And with regard to the Bachauer, "It's been in existence for a long time, which, of course, lends credibility, and under the solid leadership of one person, which lends credibility. And I think the name of Gina Bachauer is very well-known in the musical world."

Cedric Pescia, winner of the 2002 Bachauer competition has been able to launch a successful concert career in Europe, partly because of the Bachauer's reputation has in Europe. "I won the Bachauer, so people heard of me and wanted to hear me," Pescia said. "After the Bachauer competition, so many people came to me I also got an agent. And of course, I didn't play much in the United States in the last few years, but I've been very active in Europe."

In addition to being launched into a career, the unique characteristics of the Bachauer have helped Pescia in another way. The Bachauer has a free program, which allows competitors to choose whatever repertoire they feel will be best, rather than imposing requirements. For Pescia, that meant that his winning program — which organizers expect and request for concert engagements — is one with which he is comfortable. "(They) usually don't try to ask me to play the pieces that other pianists play much better than me, so I'm very happy because I'm able to express myself with my favorite repertory."

The free program and the no-elimination policy (which allows all competitors to play all three rounds before being slimmed down to the finals) are two unusual aspects to the Bachauer that have also had some influence in the arena of international competitions.