The 23rd Santa Cecília International Competition award ceremony at Casa da Música

The competition that puts to the test dozens of young talented pianist from all parts of the world delivered its final performance last Saturday, 17 July at Casa da Música. The winner of this year’s edition as Mirabelle Kajenjeri. The French pianist, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine, conquered the first prize - Prémio Cidade do Porto – with her piano performance of Concerto No. 1, op. 23, by Tchaikovsky.

Leo de María, from Spain, got second podium position, and the Chinese pianist Antonio Chen Guanng won third prize, in the main category.

The award ceremony was held in the Guilhermina Suggia room at Casa da Música, on Saturday. The three finalists interpreted works of the concert repertoire, accompanied by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by maestro Osvaldo Ferreira.

“It is with great satisfaction and joy that the Municipality of Porto, once again, joins the annual edition of the international Santa Cecília Competition”, stated the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the “artistic quality, the merit and the cultural relevance of the Competition to boost the launch of young pianists at international level”.

Also emphasising that the International Santa Cecília Competition is the biggest and the oldest music international competition held in Portugal, Rui Moreira congratulated the 29 young pianists from over 12 countries that have participated in this edition.

“It is, therefore, with great enthusiasm that the Municipality of Porto sees the organisation of the Santa Cecília International Competition, as it gathers both national and foreign talents and projects in Porto and in the Region as a centre of international events that gather substantial artistic potential, with numerous talented musicians from different parts of the world gathering in Porto”, the Mayor concluded.

The ceremony was attended, as well, by the artistic director of the competition, Álvaro Teixeira Lopes, and the representatives of the administration of Casa da Música, the president of Executive Committee of the Manuel António da Mota Foundation and the director of the Fundação La Caixa.