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23rd Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition: 2 out of 3 grand finalists select Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano
© Andrea Goytre Cabrera
(From left) Ruggiero Fiorella, Uladzislau Khandohi, Nabeel Hayek, Mr. Luis Clemente (Bilbao Trading Partnership S. L.), Mr. Kiyotoshi Yokoyama (Kawai's piano technician), and Javier Clemente (Clemente Pianos)
At the 23rd Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition held from June 4th to 14th, 2025, in Valencia, Spain, 2 out of 3 grand finalists chose the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano.
Kawai has provided instruments for official selection in the Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition through its official distributors in Spain, Bilbao Trading Partnership S. L. and Clemente Pianos.
One of Kawai’s most esteemed piano technician, MPA (Master Piano Artisan), Kiyotoshi Yokoyama from Kawai Japan, also played a pivotal role at this competition. He diligently worked on not only crafting the sound, but also contestant support through active communication.
23rd Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition : Grand Final Result
| 1st Prize / Ajuntament de València Prize / Kawai Prize | Nabeel HAYEK | Israel | Shigeru Kawai SK-EX |
| 2nd Prize / Kawai Prize / Clemente Pianos Audience Prize | Uladzislau KHANDOHI | Belarus | - |
| 3rd Prize / Diputació de València Prize | Ruggiero FIORELLA | Italy | Shigeru Kawai SK-EX |
© Andrea Goytre Cabrera
Nabeel Hayek
© Andrea Goytre Cabrera
Uladzislau Khandohi
Ruggiero Fiorella
■ About the Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition
The Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition was launched by the Diputació of València in 1981 to pay homage to the Valencian pianist, composer and orchestra director, José Iturbi, who died on June 28th, 1980 in Beverly Hills. As of today, the competition has become a platform to support new talent who try to break through the competitive world of the piano.
Official website: https://pianoiturbi.dival.es/en/
■ About the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano
Unveiled in 2001 as the flagship instrument of the Shigeru Kawai line, the SK-EX concert grand piano is hand-crafted in limited numbers following a unique ‘prototyping’ creation process. In order to achieve the supreme range of expression required in a concert piano, each instrument utilises a variety of carefully selected materials, with premium aged spruce soundboards. Shigeru Kawai instruments adopt the advanced Millennium III keyboard action, featuring extended wooden keys and advanced ABS Carbon action parts, providing superior speed and responsiveness than conventional wooden action parts, allowing pianists to express a greater range of feeling and emotion in their performance.
Shigeru Kawai official website: https://www.shigerukawai.jp/en/