Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko wins 1st prize at the 2024 Montreal International Music Competition
The 25-year-old from Salmon Arm, B.C., takes home more than $150K in prizes
The Montreal International Music Competition has announced the winners of its Piano 2024 edition, which took place from May 5 to 16.
First prize was awarded to Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, 25, from Salmon Arm, B.C. He receives $80,000 cash, plus concert and recording engagements valued at approximately $60,000. He was also awarded the $5,000 prize for top Canadian in the competition.
In the competition's final round, Izik-Dzurko performed Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and conductor Xian Zhang.
Following his semifinal solo recital, Izik-Dzurko was awarded the $3,000 prize for best performance of a sonata, and the $2,500 prize for best performance of the imposed piece, Mzizaakok Miiniwaa Mzizaakoonsak by Barbara Assiginaak.
That brings Izik-Dzurko's total winnings to $150,500.
Izik-Dzurko is a graduate of the Juilliard School. He holds a master's degree from the University of British Columbia, where he studied with Corey Hamm. He currently studies with Jacob Leuschner at the Detmold Hochschule für Musik in Germany, and in Rome with Benedetto Lupo at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
Izik-Dzurko has also won first prizes at the 2022 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the 2022 Maria Canals International Music Competition and the 20th Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition.
The Montreal International Music Competition's $15,000 second prize went to Italian pianist Gabriele Strata, who also won the $5,000 audience prize; and the $10,000 third prize was awarded to American pianist Anthony Ratinov.
The three remaining finalists each received $3,000: Elias Ackerley from the U.K./South Korea, Derek Wang from the U.S., and Jakub Kuszlik from Poland.
The prize winners were chosen by a jury comprising Dmitri Alexeev, Lydia Artymiw, Louise Bessette, Jan Jiracek von Arnim, Robert Levin, Hélène Mercier, Ronan O'Hora and Minsoo Sohn. The jury chair was Zarin Mehta.
Pianists who have previously won first prize at the Montreal International Music Competition include Beatrice Rana (2011), Jayson Gillham (2014) and Zoltan Fejervari (2017).