Honens searches for Complete Pianists—21st century artists for 21st century audiences.
The Complete Pianist is a thoughtful interpreter, a consummate collaborator, an awe-inspiring virtuoso, a communicator, a risk-taking explorer, a dreamer. He/she expresses and interprets ideas from a wide cultural context and keen imagination through performances and programming choices that are informed and seasoned by a fascination for life outside the practice studio. The Complete Pianist inspires the heart and engages the intellect.
The Honens Competition discovers a unique, imaginative and informed artist—an emerging Complete Pianist whose distinctive voice, versatility and ease as communicator demonstrate that he/she is ready to professionalize a career.
The Complete Pianist’s interpretations are founded upon the intellectual and emotional understanding of musical text and upon his/her ability to synthesize and express such understanding so as to challenge and stir both the intellect and the emotions of the listener. This creative awareness stems not only from knowledge of a particular composition itself but, equally importantly, from a wide knowledge of related music, of musical literature as a whole, and of the other arts, including, but not limited to, the visual and literary. If the resulting interpretation appears unusual and unconventional, it does so freshly and naturally. Pianists taking part in the Honens Competition must also express—through their stage deportment, program design and interviews with arts journalists—sensitivity to contemporary culture and a willingness and ability to communicate effectively with audiences of today.
