The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition in Moscow, Russia. Named after Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, it has been scheduled to take place in Moscow every four years since 1958. However, in 2006 the competition was delayed by one year, and the next competition took place in 2007, after which the competition will resume the quadrennial schedule, thus being like an olympiad of music.

To maintain the high level of the competition the organizers have implemented significant changes for the 2007 competition. From 2007 onwards, (i) the organizing committee will provide assistance for the laureates in arranging concerts around the world; (ii) the jury's voting system changes from closed-point voting to open voting; and (iii) the competition is broadcast on the internet.

Originally the competition was for pianists and violinists only. Cellists were added starting with the second competition in 1962, and vocalists with the third in 1966. Since 1990 there has also been a competition for violin makers who compete in craftsmanship of violin, viola, and cello and their respective bows. No other categories have been added since then.

The competition is organized by a committee of prominent Russian musicians and managed by the Russian State Concert Company (Sodruzhestvo). International juries of notable soloist, music professors, music directors and prior Competition winners are selected to judge the performances and choose the prize winners.

Three elimination rounds are held throughout the month of June. Currently, 26 prizes are awarded: six in each instrumental category and four each for male and female vocalists. Sometimes, however, no one wins first prize, or it may be shared between competitors. This can also occur with the lesser prizes. In earlier years, up to eight prizes were awarded.

Top prize winners

Winners of the top prize awarded in the given year and category (first prize, unless otherwise noted).

Piano

• 1958: Van Cliburn
• 1962: Vladimir Ashkenazy and John Ogdon shared first prize. Yin Chengzong and Susan Starr shared second prize.
• 1966: Grigory Sokolov
• 1970: Vladimir Krainev and John Lill shared first prize.
• 1974: Andrei Gavrilov
• 1978: Mikhail Pletnev
• 1982: No first prize awarded. Peter Donohoe and Vladimir Ovchinnikov shared second prize.
• 1986: Barry Douglas
• 1990: Boris Berezovsky
• 1994: No first prize awarded. Nikolai Lugansky won second prize.
• 1998: Denis Matsuev
• 2002: Ayako Uehara
• 2007: No first prize awarded. Miroslav Kultyshev won second prize.

Violin

• 1958: Valery Klimov
• 1962: Boris Gutnikov and Shmuel Ashkenasi
• 1966: Viktor Tretiakov
• 1970: Gidon Kremer
• 1974: No first prize awarded. Eugene Fodor, Ruben Agaranyan and Rusudan Gvasaliya shared second prize.
• 1978: Elmar Oliveira and Ilya Grubert shared first prize, Dylana Jenson shared second prize.
• 1982: Viktoria Mullova and Sergei Stadler shared first prize.
• 1986: Raphaël Oleg and Ilya Kaler shared first prize.
• 1990: Akiko Suwanai
• 1994: No first prize awarded. Anastasia Chebotareva and Jennifer Koh shared second prize.
• 1998: Nikolay Sachenko
• 2002: No first prize awarded . Tamaki Kawakubo and Chen Xi shared second prize.
• 2007: Mayuko Kamio

Cello

• 1962: Natalia Shakhovskaya
• 1966: Karine Georgyan
• 1970: David Geringas
• 1974: Boris Pergamenshchikov
• 1978: Nathaniel Rosen
• 1982: Antonio Meneses
• 1986: Mario Brunello and Kirill Rodin
• 1990: Gustav Rivinius
• 1994: No first, second and third prize awarded. Eileen Moon and Georgi Gorjunov shared the fourth prize.
• 1998: Denis Shapovalov
• 2002: No first prize awarded. Johannes Moser won second prize.
• 2007: Sergey Antonov

Vocal, male

• 1966: Vladimir Atlantov
• 1970: Yevgeny Nesterenko
• 1974: Ivan Ponomarenko
• 1978: No first prize awarded. Valentin Pivovarov and Nikita Storozhev shared the second prize.
• 1982: Paata Burchuladze
• 1986: Grigory Gritsyuk
• 1990: Hans Choi
• 1994: Yuan Cheng-ye
• 1998: Besik Gabitashvili
• 2002: Mikhail Kazakov
• 2007: Alexander Tzimbaluk

Vocal, female

• 1966: Jane Marsh
• 1970: Yelena Obraztsova
• 1974: No first prize awarded. Lyudmila Sergienko, Sylvia Sass and Stefka Evstatieva shared the second prize.
• 1978: Lyudmila Shemchuk
• 1982: Lidiya Zabilyasta
• 1986: Natalia Erasova
• 1990: Deborah Voigt
• 1994: Marina Lapina. Hibla Gerzmava won the Grand Prize.
• 1998: Mieko Sato
• 2002: Aitalina Afanasieva-Adamova
• 2007: Albina Shagimuratova

See also

• International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians is the junior section of the competition. The Association of Tchaikovsky Competition Stars recommend the first, second and third Prize winners of the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians to enter the International Tchaikovsky Competition without going through the preliminary selections and create favorable opportunities for them in case they must meet the competition entrance requirements: i.e., age limit, application procedure, etc.
• World Federation of International Music Competitions
• List of classical music competitions

References

External links

• Official website for the 2007 competition
• piano competitors 2007
• violin competitors 2007
• cello competitors 2007
• voice competitors 2007
• Directory of International Piano Competitions