Welcome to Euroasia’s competitions for 2018!
This is the 6th edition of the Euroasia Strings Competition, which has grown again this year: double the participants in the Kuala Lumpur region alone, and encompassing players from four to 34 years old!
We’re very privileged to have a partnership with the prestigious Festival de Musique des Arcs which will enable winners from 2017 onwards to have a rare opportunity to study with some of the best music educators in France. Furthermore, the First Prize Winner of the Young Artiste Category will be offered a concerto programme with the Siam Sinfonietta, Thailand’s most internationally renowned youth orchestra.
These amazing international collaborations are enhanced by our continuing partnerships with ABRSM and Trinity College London, who have generously contributed both in terms of sponsorship and their extensive experience. I am grateful to Graceful Piano for sponsoring the grand piano for the finals, and all our other sponsors who understand the role of arts and culture, particularly in a time of political transition in Malaysia.
As a pianist I’m also thrilled to also welcome you to the inaugural Malaysian Piano Competition, which we are co-presenting with the Malaysian Youth Orchestra Foundation. And, in addition to our collaboration for the Kuala Lumpur Piano Festival, we have this year added three more piano festivals: in Kuantan, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, attracting around a thousand pianists in total. In the spirit of federalism, winners from the regional events will compete for placings at the national level. Looking at the participants as I write this message, it seems competition will also be provided by budding players from around the region too!
I hope that everyone will enjoy the music, and that every participant will be inspired to continue this wonderful pursuit. I certainly hope to see Euroasia continue to play its important role to build communities of serious musicians that will elevate the status of culture in our beloved Malaysia.
Y.A.M. Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz
Patron, Euroasia Association of Performing Arts