The Maria Canals International Music Competition is a music competition held yearly in the Palau de la Música Catalana

Palau de la Música Catalana

The Palau de la Música Catalana is a concert hall in Barcelona. Designed in the Catalan modernista style by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it was built between 1905 and 1908 for the Orfeó Català, a choral society founded in 1891 that was a leading force in the Catalan cultural movement...

, Barcelona

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

. It was founded as a piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 competition in 1954, but in 1964 it was expanded so other modalities could be held occasionally.

It was founded in 1954 by the Catalan

Catalan people

The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...

 pianist Maria Remei Canals i Cendrós (born 1913) and her husband, the composer and writer Rossend Llates (18991973). Since 1954, the Competition has welcomed over 7,000 participants from 100 countries and 180 jury members from all over the world.

The Maria Canals competition, for which artists such as Joan Miró

Joan Miró

Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...

, Antoni Tàpies

Antoni Tàpies

Antoni Tàpies i Puig, 1st Marquess of Tàpies is a Catalan painter. He is one of the most famous European artists of his generation. After studying law for 3 years, he devoted himself from 1943 onwards only to his painting...

 and Joan Clavé have made publicity posters, was declared to be of public utility by the Spanish Interior Ministry in 1996.

Commentaries on the competition

• Of the multitude of international piano competitions, it is comforting to note that a competition like the Maria Canals at Barcelona, in which the piano is judged purely on a musical level, in which the player cannot forget the essential thing, interpretation, that such a competition takes on greater importance every year. Musicians can only praise and thank Maria Canals for her initiative. For my part, I can only warmly salute not only the longevity of this competition, but its ever more important participation in that magnificent combat in which, nobly and with exemplary probity, the artists of the future - those who will pick up the baton from their elders - face each other. - Vlado Perlemuter
  Vlado Perlemuter
  Vlado Perlemuter was a Lithuanian-born French pianist.-Biography:Vlado Perlemuter was born to a Polish Jewish family, the third of four sons, in Kovno, Russia . At the age of three, he lost the use of his left eye in an accident.His family settled in France in 1907...
  
  , 1964.

• Those of us who follow the Barcelonan musical life can't forget the ascendant evolution of the Maria Canals International Music Competition, initiated in 1954, which has turned into one of the most important European competitions. In celebrating its 40th anniversary we can state that many performers of the highest level have arisen from the competition, such a thing having contributed to expand the prestige of Barcelona as an artistic city. - Xavier Montsalvatge
  Xavier Montsalvatge
  Xavier Montsalvatge i Bassols was a Spanish Catalan composer and music critic. He was one of the most influential music figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the 20th century.-Life:...
  
  , 2004.

Palmares

Prize winners

Year
1954	1st prize (men)	1st prize (women)
	Miquel Farré	Maria Neus Miró
1956	Grand prize	1st prize (men) (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	1st prize (women) (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Klaus Börner	Aline Demierre
		Giorgio Radicula	Núria Escofet
1957	Grand prize	1st prize (men)	1st prize (women)
	Not awarded	Alberto Colombo	Thérèse Castaigne
1958	1st prize
	Françoise Thinat
1959	First prize	2nd prize (men)	2nd prize (women)
	Not awarded	Jean-Jacques Hauser	Yoko Ikeda
1960	1st prize
	Andrzej Jasiński Andrzej Jasinski Andrzej Jasiński is a Polish pianist.In 1959 he graduated with honors from the University of Music in Katowice in the piano class of Władysława Markiewiczówna. The following year he won the Maria Canals Competition, and subsequently completed his training under Magda Tagliaferro...
1961	1st prize
	Catherine Silie
1962	1st prize
	Dinorah Varsi
1963	1st prize	2nd prize (men)	2nd prize (women)
	Not awarded	Jerzy Vajek	Françoise Parrot
1964	1st prize
	Dag Achatz Dag Achatz Dag Achatz is a Swedish virtuoso pianist and composer. His recording for BIS of his own transcription, for piano 2 hands, of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is widely acknowledged to be one of the great recordings of the 20th century...
1965	1st prize
	James Tocco
1966	1st prize
	Leonora Milà
1967	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Franco Angeleri
		Jacques Rouvier
1968	1st prize
	Christina Viñas
1969	1st prize
	Joseph W. Fennimore
1970	1st prize
	Lupe Parrondo
1971	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Ewa Bukojemska
		Yves Noack
1972	1st prize
	Klára Barányi
1973	1st prize	Primera medalla
	Jonathan M. Purvin	Petru Florian
1974	1st prize	2nd prize by unanimity	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Blanca Bodalla	Akira Imai
			Pierre Réach
1975	1st prize	2nd prize (men) (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	2nd prize (women)
	Not awarded	Raimondo Campisi	Marioaran Trifan
		Roberto Capello
		Andrea Bonatta
1976	1st prize	2nd prize
	Yasuto Sugimoto	Elza Kolodin Elza Kolodin Elza Kolodin is a pianist from Poland. She studied in Kraków, Warsaw and Paris.She has gained much acclaim from the international press,who have described her "rapturous playing" as being distinguished by "brilliant virtuosity" and a very "personal mixture of electrifying energy and profound...
1977	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize
	Arnulf von Arnim Arnulf von Arnim Arnulf von Arnim is a German classical pianist and teacher.Von Arnim studied in Germany and France and attended classes by Claudio Arrau and Wilhelm Kempff. He is the winner of several prizes - Viotti , Busoni . He has recorded concertos and sonatas by Schubert, Schumann, Liszt and others...	Chung-Myung Kim	Silvia Natiello
		Carmen Or
1978	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Bernard d'Ascoli	Erik Berchot	Ruriko Kikuchi
1979	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Eva Tihány	Gabriela Mazza
			Kuniko Taguchi
1980	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Yuri Rosum	Cathérine Joly	Akos Hernadi
1981	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize
	Not awarded	Kazuoki Fujii	José Carlos Cocarelli José Carlos Cocarelli José Carlos Cocarelli is a Brazilian pianist.Between 1984-89 he won XXXVII Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition and the XXII Concours Long-Thibaud, and was awarded 2nd prizes at the Paloma O'Shea and Van Cliburn competitions; an international career ensued. He's active in...
		Michel Gal
1982	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Hiromi Okada	Karoly Mocsari	Yuki Matsuzawa
1983	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize	Special prize
	Not awarded	Bernd Glemser Bernd Glemser Bernd Glemser is a German pianist. A student of Vitaly Margulis, in 1989 he became Germany's youngest piano professor at Saarbrücken's Musikochschule....	Antonella Vignali	Marcelino López
		Kyoko Koyama
1984	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize
	Not awarded	Rie Konishi	Galina Vratcheva
		Pascal Le Corre
1985	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize
	Not awarded	Detlef Kaiser	Constantin Sandu
		Ian Munro Ian Munro (pianist) Ian Munro is an Australian pianist, composer, writer and music educator. His career has taken him to over 30 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia.-Biography:...
1986	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize	Special prize
	Chiharu Sakai	Carole Carniel	Nobuyuki Nagaoka	Ignacio Marín
1987	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Christopher Oakden	Keiko Nakai
			Alexandre Tharaud
1988	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize	Special prize
	Zhong Xu	Olivier Cazal Olivier Cazal Olivier Cazal is a French pianist.He was awarded 2nd prizes at the 1988 Maria Canals Competition, the 1991 Concorso Busoni , the 1991 Long-Thibaud Competition, and the 1992 Sydney International Piano Competition...	Junko Saito	José Ramón Méndez
1989	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize	Special prize
	Gerardo Vila	Christophe Simonet	Yukiko Hori	Miquel Jorba
1990	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Mathieu Papadiamandis	Not awarded	Jovianney E. Cruz Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz is a classical pianist from the Philippines. He has won several international piano competitions during his competing career and he is in the forefront in a revival of classical music interest in the country.-Biography:...
			Andrei Fadeev
1991	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Yuri Martinov	Yuko Nakamichi	Eva-Maria Rieckert
1992	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Armands Ābols Armands Abols Armands Ābols is a Latvian pianist.In 1992 Abols won at 18 Barcelona's Maria Canals, the dean of Spanish piano competitions. Three years later he took part at the XIII Paloma O'Shea Competition; he made it to the finals, ranking along the rest of the finalists second to Enrico Pompili - the Grand...	Akiko Kato	Tomoko Doi
1993	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Amir Katz	Gustavo Díaz-Jerez Gustavo Díaz-Jerez Gustavo Díaz-Jerez is a Spanish pianist and composer.-Biography:Gustavo Díaz-Jerez studied piano with J. A. Rodriguez at the Conservatorio Superior of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and subsequently with Solomon Mikowsky at Manhattan School of Music in New York City...	Rafal Luszczewski
1994	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Sviatoslav Lips	Dmitri Morozov	Frederik Lagarde
			Yoko Takemura
1995	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Won Kim	Keiji Serizawa	Yulia Botchkovskaia
			Birgita Wollenweber
1996	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Not awarded	Jan Gottlieb Jiracek	Saar Ahuvia
			Kiyo Wada
1997	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize	Special prize
	Not awarded	Elina Hata	Li Wang	Young-Ha Chung
		Ayako Kawai
1998	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	Special prize
	Peter Koczor	Takahiro Mita	Miwako Takeda	Vicent Larderet
			Anthony Zerpa-Falcon
1999	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Kirill Gerstein Kirill Gerstein Kirill Gerstein , is an American and Russian pianist. He was the First Prize winner at the 2001 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. He was chosen to receive a 2002 Gilmore Young Artist Award, and was selected as Carnegie Hall's "Rising Star" for the 2005–2006 season...	Ayako Kimura	Sung-Hoon Hwang
2000	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )
	Yusuke Kikuchi	Ferenc Vizi	Piotr Kupka
			Fabrice Lanoë
2001	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize
	Yurie Miura Yurie Miura is a Japanese pianist and actress from Oota, Tokyo. After graduating from Ferris High School in Yokohama and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 2001 she won the first prize of the Maria Canals International Music Competition.-External links:...	Mel Adkins	Mayako Asada
		Ekaterina Krivokochenko
2002	1st prize	2nd prize (ex-a. Ex aequo et bono Ex aequo et bono is a phrase derived from Latin that is used as a legal term of art... )	3rd prize
	Viv McLean	Alexandre Moutouzkine Alexandre Moutouzkine Alexandre Moutouzkine is a Russian pianist. He is active through Europe and the USA.Alexandre Moutouzkine burst onto the U.S...	Yun-Yang Lee
		Kook Hee Hong
2003	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Inesa Synkevich	Yosuke Niino	Sowon Hwang
2004	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Piotr Machnik	Yi-Chih Lu	Matei Varga
2005	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Jue Wang Jue Wang Jue Wang is a Chinese pianist.Entirely trained in his homeland, Wang has met much success in the Spanish piano competitions, being awarded 1st prizes both in Barcelona's 51st Maria Canals and Santander' 16th Paloma O'Shea competitions.-References:...	Yukiko Akagi	Fumiyo Kawamura
2006	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	José Enrique Bagaría	Marie Vermeuil	Mi-Yeon I
2007	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Mladen Čolić Mladen Čolić Mladen Čolić is a Serbian pianist trained at the University of Novi Sad's Academy of Arts and the Paris Conservatory under, respectively, Svetlana Bogino and Jacques Rouvier.-Competition Record:...	Veronika Böhmova	Marisa Gupta
2008	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Martina Filjak Martina Filjak Martina Filjak is a Croatian pianist.She started playing piano at the age of 5 and held her first public performance aged 6. She completed her studies at the Music Academy of Zagreb, the Vienna Conservatoire, the Hochschule für Musik in Hannover and additionally at the Como Piano Academy.Filjak...	Ilya Maksimov	Jun Ishimura
2009	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Vestards Šimkus Vestards Šimkus Vestards Šimkus is a Latvian pianist and composer.He won the 2001 International Performers Competition in Stockholm, the 2002 Los Angeles' Liszt Competition and the 2009 Maria Canals International Music Competition, and was awarded the Latvian Grand Music Award in 2002...	Jong Yun Kim	Scipione Sangiovanni
2010	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Denis Zhdanov	Olga Kozlova Olga Kozlova Olga Kozlova is a Russian pianist. She graduated from the Moscow Special Gnesin's School of Music in 2004 and is currently studying at the Moscow Conservatory....	Marko Hilpo
2011 LVII Maria Canals International Music Competition The LVII Maria Canals International Music Competition took place in Barcelona, Spain from March 19 to April 1, 2011. It was won by Mateusz Borowiak, who followed the steps of Andrzej Jasinski and Piotr Machnik as the third Polish pianist to win the competition...	1st prize	2nd prize	3rd prize
	Mateusz Borowiak	Alexey Lebedev	Alexey Chernov