Canadian Jaeden Izik-Dzurko was the First Prize winner on the Hilton Head Worldwide Piano Competitors, the Maria Canals Worldwide Music Competitors, and the twentieth Paloma O’Shea Santander Worldwide Piano Competitors — all in 2022.
Two years later, he’d observe up by turning into the primary Canadian Grand Prize Laureate in an instrumental version of the Concours musical worldwide de Montréal (CMIM). He’d additionally garner a first prize win on the 2024 Leeds Worldwide Piano Competitors within the UK, receiving the Dame Fanny Waterman Gold Medal.
The Leeds prize contains performances throughout Europe, and a whirlwind of appearances whereas he’s additionally learning. In October 2024, his debut EP was launched on Warner Classics, consisting of excerpts from his Leeds Competitors efficiency.
Jaeden be performing an intimate recital at Hugh’s Room Dwell in Toronto on March 23 in a sequence curated by pianist Angela Hewitt and Eric Friesen. We caught up with him to ask about competitions, profession and music.
Jaeden Izik-Dzurko: The Interview
The Leeds win was a crowning achievement for the BC native. The years of competitions and the preparations for them had been formidable.
“I contemplate the Leeds one to be my final competitors,” he says. “I’m a little bit bit happy that I can shut the guide on that chapter.”
Together with technical expertise, naturally, competitions require quite a lot of nerve and psychological preparation. However, it was time to cease pondering when it comes to besting the competitors. “Nearly spiritually,” he says, “to have this ceaseless rating occurring — it’s a little bit bit perverse.”
Nonetheless, the expertise was invaluable when it comes to making ready him for a life on worldwide levels. “I believe for grooming a performing artist, the piano competitions flex and develop lots of actually indispensable muscle tissue.”
With varied stipulations, competing internationally additionally tends to contain studying mountains of repertoire. “It turned more and more tough,” he says. Juggling a rising performing schedule, together with the journey concerned, was prohibitive.
As to his profitable kind, he says he saved his deal with the music. “I attempt to take the view that you just maintain […] the jury and their preferences out of your thoughts as a lot as potential,” he says. “It’s tough to attempt to conform to the tastes of another person, and that’s in all probability the recipe for catastrophe.”
As a substitute of the judges, he saved his thoughts on the viewers, and his important love of the music.
“That’s a chunk of recommendation that I’d provide to any younger artist going into competitions,” he says.
As a way to an finish, he’s now specializing in performing and persevering with his research. “Now that I’ve concluded my competitors experiences, it’s turning into clear to me that it’s just one element of growing a profession,” says Izik-Dzurko.
As he factors out, whereas competitions could aid you enhance approach and broaden repertoire, there are nonetheless essential issues like growing relationships with collaborators and presenters, and the continued concern of constructing an impression in your viewers, to be thought-about.
Today, his schedule is split between Germany, Italy, and worldwide journey.
“I reside in Germany, and I journey to Italy about each month for classes,” he explains. He’s learning in Germany as nicely.
His spring agenda contains an prolonged keep in Rome for classes and a chamber music examination, and a recital in Arezzo earlier in March earlier than his North American live performance dates.
In Recital: Hugh’s Room Dwell March 23
He’ll hit Kelowna on March 21 earlier than his Toronto recital on the 23. Jaeden will likely be performing a program that features new preparations of recital repertoire, some he’s performing for the primary time.
- J.S. Bach: Partita for keyboard No. 4, BWV 828
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Preludes, Op. 23
- Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
“It’s comparatively new music,” he says. “I’ve lots of love for Rachmaninoff,” he provides. “It’s one in every of my very own musical strengths.”
He cites performing Bach as one of many luxuries of leaving the competitors world behind. “It’s a little bit of a celebration of now not being constrained by competitors tips.” Nonetheless, he’s grateful for what the competitors repertoire taught him. “A few of the items that I’ve performed in lots of competitions I’ve actually grown with.”
After his Toronto gig, he’s heading east to Québec, then a recital for Société Professional Musica in Montréal earlier than dates throughout South Korea by way of April and Might.
- Discover extra details about his Toronto recital [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.
