Description
Our Beginnings
Founded in the Spring of 2000, the Russian Music Competition was created by Dr. Irina Prilipko-Morgan, and her husband Dan Morgan. The very first Competition was held at Foothill College’s Appreciation Hall, with 35 contestants, three jury members, and $500 in total prize money.
Since Then... ...
We’ve changed quite a bit. Becoming incorporated as a nonprofit organization, our organization grew into international status with contestants coming from several countries throughout the world. With the increased profile and stature, the competition was able to attract distinguished jury members consisting of internationally acclaimed concert pianists and professors, who give master classes and lectures during the ten days of competition. In addition, our organization has developed a highly proficient all volunteer board of directors, increasing the prize money to more than $12,000, plus adding special prizes including concert engagements, summer music academies, and introductions to prestigious conservatories. Most impressively, we have moved our venue to Le Petit Trianon Theatre with its Steinway D Concert Grand Piano. All of the competition rounds are free of charge and open to the public.
To better reflect who we are and the community that we're proud to represent as well as to create a global awareness, we've changed our name to the "San Jose International Piano Competition" (SJIPC). Everyone, not only in San Jose, but in the entire Bay Area, can take pride in our competition, which has put the place we call home on the map of the international piano competition circuit and has attracted some of the most talented young pianists from both here and around the world. Even though we have a new name, we remain as committed to our mission as ever.
What Else Do We Do?
In order to support the annual 10-day competition event, the SJIPC maintains a year-round calendar of equally impressive events. These include in-home concerts featuring past competition prizewinners, as well as members of the jury and top prizewinners of major piano competitions. In addition, the SJIPC books established concert pianists for performances at Le Petit Trianon Theatre, and has frequent student recitals that are free of charge featuring young and talented pianists from the Bay Area. Only fifteen percent of the competition budget is paid for from contestant application fees. The remaining funds are generated from fundraising events, city and state grants, corporate sponsorships, and private contributions. In order to maintain our organization at the highest level of quality, we always welcome our friends in the community to support our mission to "promote excellence and education through competition and performance with emphasis on Russian music".
