Whether you’re planning to compete in the future, or you like to be part of the audience, jot down the dates of these competitions because you don’t want to miss them!

The Sydney International Piano Competition

The Sydney International Piano competition is a major event that aims to recognise and celebrate unique musical artistry in it’s prizewinners. It inspires both pianists and audiences, and provides a platform to showcase superb all-round pianists who are ready to undertake major international careers. 

How it works:

32 competitors are chosen by a preselection panel consisting of five pianists/musicians of international experience. Due to covid, the applications received for the originally scheduled 2020 competition and will become the competitors for the 2021 Sydney International Online Piano Competition. An additional 33rd competitor will be admitted to the competition for 2021 only. 

The competition is well underway with results of the preliminary round being revealed to the contestants and public on July 9, 2021. The semi final round is scheduled for July 15, 2021, and the grand final for July 18, 2021.

Live stream tickets can be booked now via https://thesydney.com.au/

Australian International Chopin Piano Competition

The Australian International Chopin Piano Competition is a triennial partnership between The Australian National University and its School of Music, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Australia, and the Friends of Chopin Australia. It was established in 2011 and seeks to return to the 19th century ideals of interpretation and music making. 

Of the competition, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Brian P. Schmidt says ‘Chopin Piano Competition focuses on celebrating excellence, performance, and a rich history of intelligent creativity, all through Chopin’s unforgettable legacy.’

How it works:

The 2021 competition boasts 16 international competitors from 11 countries around the world coming together over seven days for their love of Chopin, competing for their share of cash prizes. The jury consists of 8 esteemed pianists, educators, composers, and conductors. 

There are three winner’s recitals: September 19, 2021 at Sydney Opera House’s Utzon Room, September 20, 2021 at The High Court of Australia in Canberra, and September 24, 2021 at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane. For the performance schedule and to buy tickets, visit https://www.aicpc.org.au/

Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition

“We would like to wish the young pianists the power to fully realise their creative potential. We hope that the audience will enjoy taking part in this event and will support the young musicians by sharing their aspirations”  – Natasha Vlassenko, Oleg Stepanov – Artistic Directors. 

The Les Vlassenko Piano Competition is open to permanent residents and citizens of Australia, as well as those from another nation who have studied in Australia for at least one year within the last three years, between the ages of 16-30. Due to current travel restrictions, overseas applicants are not eligible to apply. As the Grand Final is fast approaching, applications for 2021 have now closed.

How it works:

After auditions close, 12 contestants are selected to present a 90 minute recital in either Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne. 

Of those 12 contestants, 3 will go on to perform at the competition final where they will be accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

The Grand Final will be held on July 16, 2021 at the Conservatorium Theatre, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. For tickets, visit https://www.lev-vlassenko.com/

The Grand Final will also be live streamed via the website. Past recitals are currently available for immediate live stream.

International Cochran Piano Competition

The International Cochran Piano Competition is the first entirely online competition, and was inspired by the music of Australian composer and virtuosic pianist, Julian Cochran. 

With dedicated mentorship programs, a unique judging system, and no upper age limit, the International Cochran Piano Competition is an amazing opportunity for pianists. There is also no upper age limit. 

How it works:

The repertoire has to consist of Julian Cochrans music. The performances are evaluated by a jury that do not communicate with each other. They also provide written feedback, providing each contestant further opportunity to develop. Each participant is also offered a Skype conversation with the jury member of their choice. Take a look here https://www.cochranpianocompetition.com/icpc-2021

Brisbane International Youth Music Festival

Brisbane International Youth Music Festival is an international competition for young classical musicians. BIYMF is a non-for profit organization, operating exclusively for educational purposes. Part of their mission is to ‘not simply to select the best musicians, but to acknowledge and reward those talented and aspiring young performers who demonstrate a passion for music.’

This competition is open to both piano and other instrumentalists of any nationality aged 25 and under. If you’ve been considering entering a piano competition, applications are being accepted up until August 15, 2021.

How it works:

There are five age categories, with the youngest being ‘under 9’s’. Applicants are required to record and submit a video submission of one piece of their choice, either Baroque, Classical, Romanic, or Modern work. Non classical works will not be considered. The application fee is currently $99.

The festival will be held online between August 25 – September 15, 2021, and will be judged by a minimum of three distinguished international musicians. 

To read more and apply, visit https://brisbaneyouthmusicfestival.org/

Have you ever walked into a piano store and looked at two keyboards side by side and wondered why one is more expensive when they look almost identical?

Navigating the world of pianos for the first time can be tricky, so we’ve broken down the features of four popular home style Casio digital pianos so you can discover which is the best model for your needs. 

Celviano Series: AP270 and AP470 

AP270:

The entry level model into the series is an excellent choice for both beginners and hobbyists looking for a beautifully designed model that has a great feel and sound. Designed to feel like an acoustic piano, it has weighted keys with a wood-like texture. This technology, patented by Casio, is called ‘Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II’. 

Casio’s sound technology is called ‘AiR’ – ‘Acoustic and Intelligent Resonator. Through piano sampling, Casio has created a piano sound that is natural, rich, and resonant. 

AP470:

The next model up also features Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II and AiR sound technology, but this time steps it up a notch with a more advanced speaker system – 2 X 20W. The result is not simply that it can go louder, it produces a beautifully full and rich sound. 

When deciding between these two models, I encourage you to have a play (or listen to someone else play!) of both side by side. Even if you haven’t played music before or claim to be ‘not musical’, you’ll notice the superior sound on this model.

The lid is also able to be opened. Much like an acoustic piano, the lid position alters the sound and volume. This impressive feature gives the player control over their desired sound. 

The AP470 also has a USB port positioned in the front of the keyboard so you can record straight to your USB and then plug into your computer for listening, sharing, or recording. Handy!

Both of these models have a metronome, built in record function, a lesson function, and app connectivity via cable. They both have 22 tones – Grand Piano 1 (concert, mellow, bright), Grand Piano 2 (concert, mellow, bright), and a selection of electric pianos, strings, and organs. 

Privia Series: PX770 and PX870 

The first thing you’ll notice is that the PX770 and PX870 are cased in a modern, slimline shape, rather than the traditional cabinet of the Celivano Series.

Whilst this sleek design can be simply a design preference, it also has the practical benefit of taking up less space in the home without sacrificing on sound quality. 

These models also feature Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II and AiR sound source. The PX770 features the same speaker size as the AP270, and the PX870 features 2 X 20W speakers like the AP470. 

The PX870 doesn’t have a moveable lid like the AP470, but instead has an inbuilt ‘lid simulator’ function.

When compared to the AP270, the PX770 has slightly less tones – 19 instead of 22, and lower polyphony – 128 compared to the AP270’s 192. For the beginner to intermediate player, this will not make a great deal of difference. These two models also have a metronome, built in record function, a lesson function, and app connectivity via cable.

Both the PX870 and AP470 have a polyphony of 256. 

The AP270, AP470, PX770, and PX870 all have a folding lid to protect the keys from dust, little fingers and pets. They’re also available in three colours – Black, Brown, or White. 

To read more about Casio’s technology, visit their website article here https://www.casio-intl.com/asia/en/emi/privia/info/#air

For a closer look at these models, feel free to visit us in store. Our experienced piano experts will guide you through each of the features on our demonstration models.

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Roland’s popular FP series has had an upgrade!

The FPX Series at a glance: 

The high quality sound, ivory feel keys with graded hammer action, and app connectivity make this series an excellent choice for beginners, gigging musicians, songwriters, composers, and anyone interested in having a piano playing experience with a portable digital instrument.

Throughout the range, there have been great app and connectivity additions, additional sounds, and even better sound quality. As for versatility, all three models in the FP-X series – the FP-30X, FP-60X, and FP90-X have the option of adding a fixed stand and pedal board. 

For more information on the apps available to use with the range, take a look at Roland’s Piano Everyday and Piano Designer apps.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the three models and their new features:

FP-30X

This keyboard again uses Roland’s PHA-4 keyboard and superNATURAL sound technology with 2 X 11W speakers, but this time, uses a more advanced chip processor, resulting in a clear, brilliant sound. 

For those looking to gig on a budget, the FP-30X now has dedicated stereo ¼ line outs which can be used to connect to external speakers.  

The FP-30X also has three selectable speaker settings: 

1.    OFF (which would be used when connected to an external speaker). 

2.    DESK (bass is reduced for more clarity when being played on a desk at home). 

3.    STAND (bass is increased to allow the sound to disperse below the stand as would be the case when sitting in front of an acoustic piano).

Tones

The FP-30X contains 12 piano tones, 20 electric piano tones, and 24 ‘other’ tones- everything you need to play a wide variety of music. 

Weight

The FP-30X comes in at 14.8kgs. Stand and pedal options for this model can be viewed here.

The FP-60X

Also using Roland’s PHA-4 keyboard and SUPERnatural sound engine, the FP-60X now jumps up to a more advanced speaker system, 2 X 13W,  which is powerful enough for an intimate live performance, or simply an amazing sounding home instrument. 

A more powerful speaker means a richer, deeper tone, even when being played at a softer level.

Singers, rejoice! The FP-60X now contains a mic input for recording and practicing.

Recording can be done to both USB, as well as directly onto the keyboard. Practicing at home with a microphone is a great way to work on your performance technique ahead of the gig.

The new My Stage function allows you to pair piano tones with ambience types to create an immersive experience of playing in different environments such as concert halls, clubs, and studios.

Tones

The FP-60X contains a whopping 358 sounds (including 8 drum sets and 1 SFX set), giving you everything you need for gigging, and creating music at home. Whether you like to play with different sounds and styles, or stick to your select favorites, the FP-60X gives you fantastic options to choose from.

Weight

The additional speaker size makes this model a little heavier compared to the FP-30X, yet still easy to carry around at 19.3kgs.

If you’re looking for the next step up in sound quality and functionality, this model ticks all the boxes.

FP-90X

At the top of the line is Roland’s flagship portable piano. Featuring Roland’s PHA-50 hybrid keyboard with wooden keys, and PureAcoustic Piano Modeling, the FP-90X delivers a truly stunning piano playing experience – all cased inside a portable digital mode for the first timel. 

This model goes above and beyond with its powerful four speaker system – 2 X 25W + 2 X 5W.

The speakers are powerful enough to do an intimate performance without needing to connect to an external sound source such as an amplifier or PA system. 

Mainly using it for home practice? The FP-90X also delivers an incredible sound when being played at a lower volume, retaining a great depth of tone.

The FP-90X also contains a microphone input and My Stage function.

Tones

The FP-90X contains 362 tones, including eight PureAcoustic pianos, 12 sampled pianos, and famous synths such as Jupiter 8, and D50.

Weight

23.6kgs.

The Roland FPX series is ideal for anyone wanting to get started, or level up.

Please note: the FPX range has replaced the now discontinued FP range.

Visit your nearest Australian Piano Warehouse showroom to experience these pianos, or feel free to get in touch with your local store on 1300 888 279 for more information.

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