This prize, won by a talented pianist at one of the most prestigious and extremely complex young performers’ competition is another great victory of Ukrainian musicians at the global artistic arena. Lopatynsky was the only Ukrainian among the contestants in Tokyo, Japan.
This year 449 applications were submitted, from 42 countries and 1 region, which became a record-breaking number in the history of this competition. The organization committee handpicked 87 applicants to take part in the 9th Hamamatsu International Competition.
Pianists competed in four rounds. Twelve of them were admitted to the half-final, where, besides the solo program, they had to perform the Mozart Quartet. The jury included the world-renowned musicians: Martha Argerich, Andrzej Jasinski, Sergei Babayan, Pavel Nersessian, Ebi Akiko, and Jay Gottlieb.
In the final round (performance with the orchestra) six competitors demonstrated their mastery. The second award of this prestigious competition was won by Roman Lopatynsky, 5th-year student of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, pupil of assistant professor Serhii Riabov and of Boris Petrushansky at the International Piano Academy “Incontri con Maestro” (Italy). By the way, at this year’s 60th edition of the F. Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy Lopatynsky also became a laureate.
Lopatynsky was born on June 29, 1993 in Kyiv. In early childhood he displayed outstanding musical ability, and at the age of five began studying piano at the Lysenko Music School in Kyiv, under supervision of Iryna Barynova. At eight, he won a special award at the Sribny Dzvin competition (Uzhorod, 2001). At the same time he began to play in a chamber ensemble under Larysa Raiko. During his student years, Lopatynsky was winner and laureate of numerous chamber and solo international and Ukrainian competitions, in particular, the Horowitz competition, the young pianists’ contest in Tbilisi, and others. Now the young musician has an extensive repertoire and plays in concerts in Ukraine and abroad. His victory in Japan is yet another testimony of his great talent. We are proud of Roman! We would also like to remind that this year Antonii Baryshevsky was the only Ukrainian to win the Grand Prix and the first prize at the Arthur Rubinstein competition in Israel, which is considered to be extremely complicated among pianists. Music lovers in many countries vie for the right to see a concert of this unique young pianist. Indeed, the outstanding French violinist and film director, author of several documentaries about musicians Bruno Monsaingeon was right when he said in an interview: “I associate the future of music with Ukraine, which has exceptionally gifted young people!”
We are proud that these fantastically gifted musicians studied at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine (NMAU). Now we have a lot of such exceptionally gifted young men and women. Practically every day they bring to their alma mater awards from international competitions. It is great that they enjoy recognition in the music world. But is their talent appreciated in their own country?
