Crimean pianist receives top prize (05/31/98)

Crimean pianist receives top prize

by Tony Leliw

LONDON - Ukrainian pianist Alina Kabanova received a top prize at the London Piano Competition held April 8.

The 16-year-old pianist from Crimea, educated at the Sevastopol Music School No. 1, won a scholarship to study at the prestigious North London Piano School after playing a rousing performance of Liszt's Study in F Minor. Ms. Kabanova begins training in August.

The competition was held at the famous Harrow School, where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was educated. Presenting the prizes in the school's speech room, Harrow's Mayor Councillor Keith Toms said: 'It is a great credit to the organizers of this concert that the music is of such high quality."

Dr. Michael Schreider, co-director of the North London Piano School and organizer of the inaugural competition, noted that "the competition is a training field for musicians before they take part in such competitions as the Tchaikovsky." Unlike other piano competitions, Dr. Schreider said this competition was unique because it expressed the versatility of the piano in solo, duo and ensemble formation.