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Are you an accompanist? Are you a singer working with an accompanist? Maybe you just love lieder, whatever your interest, this is the place for you. Finally a truly international competition exclusively for the piano accompanist. A friendly competition, a fun competition, a competition highlighting the unique and wonderful skills of the vocal accompanist.

Around the world there are thousands of pianists pursuing a career as an accompanist, working in music institutions, opera houses, ballet companies, or as freelance pianists and the work they do is often overlooked, misunderstood or even neglected. During my years of performing and teaching I have come to realise that there are so many wonderful, talented and gifted pianists whose greatest desire is to perform as an accompanist. Through this competition I hope to encourage pianists, young and not so young, to find new inspiration and realise that the work they do is both invaluable and vital, and I hope we will finally enable the accompanist to step out of the shadows. (Kelvin Grout)

This competition is the initiative of the renowned accompanist and teacher KELVIN GROUT who is currently celebrating fifty years of playing the piano. In addition to special concerts and master-classes throughout the seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, he has organised this annual event intending to raise the profile of the piano accompanist and encourage young pianists to pursue this increasingly sought after and exciting specialisation. With prize money in the region of 25,000 euro, and a first prize of 10,000 euro this promises to become one of the most important competitions in the classical music world.

There are many accompanists who are very good pianists, but there are not many pianists who are good accompanists! (Irwin Gage)

The competition will take place in the old stock exchange building called the Beurs van Berlage. This is in the very heart of Amsterdam, just five minutes walk from the central railway station. There are numerous hotels within walking distance, many of them listed on the relevant link. For more information regarding the Beurs and layout of the hall etc you can click on the 'location' link.

A highly regarded accompanist often tells the story of how a very close friend asked, "Did you manage to hear last nights recital by Ms So and so? I thought she sang magnificently, did you hear it?" "Yes", he replied, "actually I was accompanying her!"

Overseas Candidate? We will endeavour to place all overseas candidates on the Thursday (12th March 2009) in order to keep the costs of accomodation to a minimum.

This competition is organised by the Stichting Kelvin Grout in the Netherlands. All enquiries should be sent to;

Accompanists Competition

Bavelselaan 54a

4835GN Breda

The Netherlands

Telephone: 0031 (0)76 5651842