Welcome

WELCOME FROM THE Mayor

October 1, 2019

Dear Attendees:

On behalf of the City of Albuquerque, it is with great pleasure that I welcome all visitors and participants of the Second Olga Kem International Piano Competition. This city has a rich culture and many wonderful amenities for musicians and guests to enjoy during their visit.

While you express your musical talents, I invite you to visit some of our wonderful culturally diverse attractions here in Albuquerque, such as the Balloon Museum and Sandia Tram. For those who enjoy history, a stroll through Old Town will transport you back more than 300 years when Albuquerque was founded. There is much to explore in our unique city!

I thank the New Mexico Philharmonic, Olga Kem, and all who are supporting the Second Olga Kem International Piano Competition. We are happy that you have chosen Albuquerque to host this event, and I wish all 24 outstanding pianists the best ofluck on their path to making their mark on the international music scene.

Have a wonderful week in the midst of sublime classical music.Sincerely,

Timothy M. Keller Mayor

Steinway & Sons

October 27, 2019

Dear Distinguished Contestant,

On behalf of Steinway & Sons, I would like to congratulate you on your selection to the 2019 Olga KernInternational Piano Competition. Your invitation to this prestigious event is a testament to your talent,dedication, and hard work.

We are honored that Steinway is the official piano of the Competition and are proud to sponsor the missionof the Olga Kern International Piano Competition – to provide the venue for young pianists to developinternational careers through a competition that is recognized globally for its value and excellence.

I sincerely hope that your experience at the Olga Kern International Piano Competition is a memory youwill cherish for years to come, and that your artistry and love of the piano and its repertoire will be furtherenhanced as a result of your participation. I wish you all the best this week and throughout your musical life.

With best regards,

Ron Losby, Chief Executive Officer, Steinway Musical Instruments

WELCOME FROM Olga Kern

Welcome to the Second Olga Kern International Piano Competition, taking place again in the beautiful Land of Enchantment. We have selected 24 amazing young pianists whom I welcome with much excitement to Albuquerque as part of the competition this year.

In 2016, we concluded a wonderful week at the first OKIPC. Three years later, we are seeing how the winners from the first competition are faring in the international concertizing scene. I am so happy to say that they have played more than 20 times with orchestras on four continents and have performed many recitals around the world. We look forward to furthering the careers of this year’s winners. Thank you so much to the members of the selection Jury for their hard and difficult work in selecting the best of the best to come to Albuquerque.

Welcome from my heart to the distinguished judges, each one of them internationally celebrated musicians, who are traveling to NM for the week to dedicate their time and expertise to the Second Olga Kern International Piano Competition.

Finally, I would like to thank the New Mexico Philharmonic, the City of Albuquerque, and all the donors, host families, volunteers, and many friends from all over the world who came together to collectively help and create this international event.

OLGA KERN, Artistic Director & President of the Jury

WELCOME FROM THE President of the Board

I am very excited to welcome you to the Second Triennial Olga Kern International Piano Competition. During this week, you will have the opportunity to hear amazing performances by some of the most talented young pianists in the world. The New Mexico Philharmonic is pleased to support this event by providing the opportunity for the four finalists to perform the final round with the orchestra under the leadership of Music Director Maestro Roberto Minczuk.

Albuquerque and New Mexico have much to offer in addition to the competition, and we hope that you will make time to see some of our spectacular Southwest attractions, both natural and man-made, that tens of thousands of visitors to the Land of Enchantment enjoy each year.

On behalf of the entire NMPhil, we would like to thank the City of Albuquerque for its support and funding for the competition. Thanks also to Steinway & Sons for its generous sponsorship by providing the pianos for the contestants’ host families as well as the performance pianos for all the competition rounds. We are deeply grateful to all the donors who through their generosity are providing the critical support to ensure the continuation of this important event.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the families who are hosting the contestants and to the many volunteers who make the daily activities happen.

Having the Olga Kern International Piano Competition in Albuquerque and New Mexico enriches our lives and brings international standing to the area through this world-class event.

MAUREEN BACA, President of the Board