Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

(From left) Roman Fediurko, Shion Ota, and Elizaveta Ukrainskaia

 

The 3rd Malaga City International Piano Competition was held in Malaga, Spain, from June 19th to 27th, and the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano was chosen as the official piano for the competition.

 

 

Kawai has provided supports collaborating with its official distributors in Spain, Bilbao Trading Partnership S. L. and Royal Pianos.
This competition kicked off with an opening gala by Dúo Del Valle, one of the most outstanding chamber music groups in Europe, and the final round was held at Cervantes Theater.

One of Kawai’s most esteemed piano technician, MPA (Master Piano Artisan) Yoshifumi Sato from Kawai Japan, also played a pivotal role at the Malaga International Piano Competition. He and a piano technician apprentice from Japan, Tsubasa Miyahara, diligently worked on not only crafting the sound, but also contestant support through active communication.

 

Kawai's piano technician "MPA": Yoshifumi Sato

 

 

■ 3rd Malaga City International Piano Competition: Final Result

 

1st prize winner - Elizaveta Ukrainskaia

How did you feel about winning the prize?

The entire competition was both a tremendous joy and a challenge for me. And when I arrived at my first rehearsal with the orchestra, I felt such a surge of energy that I forgot the entire previous musical "marathon"! I am immensely grateful to everyone for their trust, for understanding and accepting me as a musician, for not just listening to me but hearing me. That's a rarity these days. I'm proud to have won this competition!

 

What are your impressions of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano?

The Shigeru Kawai SK-EX became one of my favorite grand piano a year ago at the competition in Sendai (Japan). Since then, it's been a talisman for my victories! The competition was held in four rounds and three different venues, but the piano was the same. It was so interesting to see how it behaved and changed! I'd just like to thank Mr. Yoshifumi Sato and Mr. Tsubasa Miyahara, who carefully looked after the piano (and the competitors).

 

What does music and the piano mean to you?

Music is a way of being, a frame of reference, a universal language, a psychologist, a spiritual guide, faith for the unbelievers, hope for the despairing, and consolation for all.

 

What would you like to communicate or convey through music and the piano—to the audience, to society, or to yourself?

I would like to use music to create a space in which everyone (the composer, myself, and the audience) could achieve the impossible. To experience somethings they've never felt before, to fly if they've dreamed of flying, to feel warmth when it's snowing outside, or, conversely, the light touch of a cool breeze when it's 35 degrees outside...
Music is capable of all this; it will always protect, embrace, and give hope.

 

What are your plans and aspirations for the future?

I have many plans for next year, including several new solo programs, one of which is dedicated to Schubert's anniversary! But my main goal and dream is to perform all of Mozart's concertos in one year, using my cadenzas. I eagerly await its fulfillment!

 

 

 

3rd prize winner – Shion Ota

How did you feel about winning the prize?

The solo program I performed in this competition included many new pieces that I worked on within a relatively short period of time, so it was a major challenge for me. As I prepared each work, I spent a lot of time confronting my own limitations and areas for improvement, while doing my best to grow through the process.
To be honest, I did not really expect to advance through so many rounds. That is why being selected as a finalist and receiving Third Prize was such a great honor and a wonderful surprise. I was also very honored to receive the Chamber Music Prize for our performance of Brahms’s Piano Quintet in the semifinal round.
Working closely with such inspiring fellow musicians was one of the most rewarding parts of the competition, and those experiences will remain very special to me.

 

What are your impressions of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano?

I performed every round of the competition, including the solo, chamber music, and concerto rounds, on the same Shigeru Kawai SK-EX. Spending so much time with one instrument while performing a wide variety of repertoire was a very special experience, and by the end I felt that I had developed a real sense of trust in the piano.
The instrument was extremely responsive and easy to control, allowing me to express the sounds and musical ideas I had in mind without feeling any unnecessary tension. The competition took place in three different halls and theaters, each with its own acoustics, but the piano was carefully prepared for every venue. Thanks to that, I was able to focus completely on the music wherever I performed.
What impressed me most was the dedication of the Kawai’s piano technicians. They listened to every performance from the audience and carefully took performers’ feedback into account while making adjustments right up until the last moment before each round. Their commitment gave me great confidence in the instrument and allowed me to feel comfortable and supported on stage.

 

What does music and the piano mean to you?

For me, music is both a window to the world and a mirror that reflects who I am.
The more deeply I study a piece, the more I learn not only about the composer and their time, but also about my own thoughts, values, and even parts of myself that I had not noticed before. In that sense, performing is more than simply expressing a piece of music. It is also a lifelong process of discovering and understanding myself.

 

What would you like to communicate or convey through music and the piano—to the audience, to society, or to yourself?

Life is not always filled with beautiful or happy moments. Along with joy and hope, we all experience uncertainty, struggles, and sometimes our own weaknesses. I believe these feelings are a natural part of being human.
Music has the power to embrace those complex emotions without judging them or trying to simplify them. Through my performances, I do not want to impose a single message or answer. Instead, I hope to present each work as honestly and sincerely as possible, so that listeners can connect it with their own memories, emotions, and experiences.
If my performances can create a moment for someone to feel something deeply, reflect on their own life, or discover a new perspective, that would mean a great deal to me.

 

What are your plans and aspirations for the future?

In the future, I would like to continue expanding my repertoire while taking the time to explore each work more deeply and discover its unique character and beauty.
This competition also reminded me how rewarding and meaningful chamber music can be. Because of that experience, I hope to pursue not only solo performances but also more opportunities to collaborate with other musicians in a variety of ensemble settings.
As a musician, I want to focus not only on achievements and results, but also on the people and music I encounter along the way. I hope to keep learning, growing, and developing as an artist through those experiences.

 

 

 

 

■ Semi-final Performance

 

1st prize winner: Elizaveta Ukrainskaia

 

 

2nd prize winner: Roman Fediurko

 

 

3rd prize winner: Shion Ota

 

 

■ About the Malaga City International Piano Competition

 

The idea for the contest comes from Pablo Amorós, who is a pianist and loves difference. Mayor Francisco de la Torre of Malaga, known for his appreciation of the arts, also enthusiastically supported this idea. The realization of the "Málaga City International Piano Competition" was made possible by the generous cooperation of our sponsors.
This competition values pianists who can express individuality and originality over those who are simply excellent performers.

 

Official website: https://concursopianociudaddemalaga.com/

 

 

■ 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/

 

2nd prize winner: Roman Fediurko