Top: Alexandra Selim, winner of the second prize (age group: up to 11 years). Bottom from left to right: first prize winners, Lara Osama (up to 11 years), Mahmoud Gado (12-15) and Abdel Rahman Behei El Din (over 18) (Photo: Ati Metwaly)
The second and final day of the Chopin Piano Competition Egypt came to an end on Tuesday 25 November.
Organised by the Egyptian Youth Music Association and in collaboration with the Polish embassy and the Cairo Opera House, the fourth edition of the competition attracted children and young talents to compete in four age groups: up to 11 years, 12-15, 16-18 and over 18. The two days of competition took place at the Cairo Conservatory.
The winners were announced by a jury consisting of Egyptian musicians Fawzy El-Shamy, Moushira Eissa and Amal El-Shahed, as well as Mariola Cieniawa-Puchala, a renowned Polish pianist and professor at the Krakow Academy of Music.
In the group up to 11 years, the first prize winner was Lara Osama. The second prize was given to Alexandra Selim and the third to Yehya Mohamed El-Harmil.
Two more first prize winners were announced, Mahmoud Gado, 14, for the group aged 12-15, and Abdel-Rahman Bahieldin, 19, for the group 18 and above.
No contestants participated in age group 16-18 this year.
"I am very happy with all the contestants who took part in the competition this year. Their level was impressive, much better than the previous years," El-Shamy told Ahram Online after the awards announcement. A former dean of the Cairo Conservatory, El-Shamy is the main dynamo behind the competition and head of the jury.
As per annual practice, the three first prize winners will travel to Poland where they will be offered a master-class under the umbrella of Cieniawa-Puchala.
All the winners and other chosen participants will hold a concert at the Cairo Opera House's small hall on Thursday 27 November. The concert will begin at 8pm and admission is free of charge.
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