When they say at the end of a competition that “all participants should celebrate since they are all winners,” it is not just politeness or simple encouragement to the ones who will eventually walk out without a prize. As serious competitors themselves once, the jurors are very aware of the focus, tough work, and sacrifice that it takes to simply walk onto the stage for a competition regardless of how the actual performance turns out. They understand that everyone who gives their all on and off stage should be recognized and appreciated.
© Casa da Música/Alexandre Delmar
The problem is prizes must be attributed. It is called a competition after all. The older I get, the more I realize that the concept of competition is fundamentally against the reasons why I play the piano. I always strive to make the public feel my own interpretation, my own view, my own world, and my own emotions, and I hope that they connect with what I share with them. My playing does not have to be better than everyone else. It is just naturally different because nobody else is, well, me.
That is not to say that it is not possible for someone to perform better than their colleagues. Just the simple fact that we work so much to improve our playing shows that you are at least better than yourself from the past. And these comparisons, although not the main objective of the art and the performance itself, are required for improvement. A necessary evil, so to speak.
And that’s why one big and important part of competitions happens after the competition itself is officially over: The chat with the jury. At one point, I decided to always do it, no matter if I win a competition or not. Earlier this year, I won the Yamaha Scholarship in Austria, and even though I won, I learned the most from this competition by talking to the jury afterwards.
Of course that is not the only reason why I do competitions. The Yamaha Scholarship gave me much appreciated financial support to continue my studies in Vienna. Also, my current goal is to play for as many people as possible with the hope that someone is willing to invest in my music through recital opportunities, and competitions are a good way to get that exposure. But I am still constantly learning like everyone else so I am always searching for new and varied input with which I can enrich my musical performances.
© Casa da Música/Alexandre Delmar
This pursuit of constant learning is why I was so happy to learn that Radda was going to create a competition which shifts the focus from the competition side to the improvement side. Contestants not only have the opportunity to schedule time to talk to the jury after the competition, but they also have the opportunity to get their competition videos revised by a different artist before the competition happens. The Radda Rise International Piano Competition gives contestants an important learning experience that most competitions don’t, which I think is especially important for competitions designed for young pianists who are in a pivotal developmental stage in their musical careers.
I was actually asked if I could offer some general tips to the young performers about their preparation for this competition, but instead I will just give advice that I think is extremely important to have in mind during the entire process of becoming a musician: people might be amazed by what you play, but they will be touched by what you express. This is always a golden rule no matter what, but for some reason, I feel like it is easier to forget in the context of a competition because we are too focused on being "perfect.” However, we have to remember that with the countless performances of the same pieces that jurors must have heard, they are actually the most eager audience to hear unique and personal interpretations!
Of course look closely at the score, listen carefully to your professors, and find as many musical opinions as you can through lessons, recordings, masterclasses, etc., because their knowledge and experience with what works or not will be valuable to your performance decisions, but ultimately it is pointless to do a crescendo that everything and everybody tells you to do if through it you say nothing. It has to come from you.
Express yourself. And happy practicing!!
~ Nuno Ventura de Sousa
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