Honens adds $5,000 Audience Award to line-up of cash prizes

CALGARY, AB, August 23, 2018 —One week prior to the start of the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition, Honens is pleased to announce the addition of an Audience Award, worth $5,000 CAD, to their line-up of cash prizes. The Audience Award recipient will be selected by concert audiences (both those who attend the performances and those who view the Competition via Livestream) who will vote via their smart phone immediately following the final concert of the Competition.  “We are absolutely delighted with the addition of this exciting aspect of the Competition,” said Neil Edwards, Honens’ President & CEO, “and very grateful to Board Member Heather Edwards for suggesting and supporting it. What an excellent opportunity for our audience to have their say!”

Prizes for the 2018 Competition include: $100,000 CAD to the Prize Laureate and an Artist Development Program valued at a half-million dollars, $10,000 CAD to each of the Finalists, and $2,500 CAD to each Semifinalist.

The 2018 Honens International Piano Competition & Festival begins on August 30 with Semifinals performances daily at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. until September 3 when the Finalists are announced. The Finals take place on September 6 and 7 and feature the three Finalists in chamber performances with the Azahar Ensemble and concerto performances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and guest conductor Karina Canellakis.

For further information, including a full Competition and Festival schedule, please visit www.honens.com.

The 2018 Honens International Piano Competition is presented by TD Bank Group. The 2018 Honens Festival is presented by Nexen Energy, a CNOOC Limited Company. Lead Partners are TransAlta and the RBC Emerging Artists Project. The ninth edition of the Honens International Piano Competition & Festival runs from August 30 to September 8, 2018.