Canada’s Concours Musical International de Montréal Awards 2024 Piano Prizewinners

Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko has won first prize at this year's competition

The 2024 piano edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) has come to a close. Since its founding in 2001, almost 5,000 young artists from over 90 countries training in the leading music schools have applied to the competition.

In the two-night final round, six pianists — Elias Ackerley, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, Jakub Kuszlik, Anthony Ratinov, Gabriele Strata, and Derek Wang — performed with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal led by guest conductor Xian Zhang.

First prize, involving cash awards and performance opportunities amounting to over $140,000, went to 25-year-old pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko from British Columbia, Canada. Jaeden will get the Grand Cash Prize of $30,000 offered by la Ville de Montréal, Joseph-Rouleau Career Development Grant of $50,000 offered by The Azrieli Foundation, the Steinway Recording Prize (valued at over $54,000), plus Steinway Prizewinner Concerts, a Korean Tour, an engagement with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for a concert or recital in a subsequent season, and a solo recital engagement for the Coast Recital Society's 2025-2026 season

Second Prize, valued at $15,000, went to 24-year-old pianist Gabriele Strata from Italy, while Third Prize and $10,000 was given to 26-year-old pianist Anthony Ratinov from the United States.

Both valued at $5,000, the Audience Award was given to Gabriele Strata and the Award for Best Canadian Artist went to Jaeden Izik-Dzurko.

As an official digital partner of the CMIM, The Violin Channel streamed streamed tonight's final round and award ceremony, here. 

The 2024 CMIM jury comprised Zarin Mehta (chair), Dmitri Alexeev, Jan Jiracek von Arnim, Lydia Artymiw, Louise Bessette, Robert Levin, Hélène Mercier, Ronan O'Hora, and Minsoo Sohn.

In the semifinal, Strata also won the Chamber Music Award, and Izik-Dzurko was awarded the best performance of a sonata, as well as the best performance award for the compulsory Canadian work. Additionally, the Bita Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement Award went to Élisabeth Pion, and the Junior Jury Prize was awarded to Jakub Kuszlik.

Chosen in 2021 as one of CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko is a 1st prize winner at the 2022 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the 2022 Maria Canals International Music Competition. Most recently, he was awarded the 1st prize, the Canon Audience Prize, and the Chamber Music Award at the 20th Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition.

Jaeden has appeared as a featured soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, the Kamloops Symphony, the Jove Orquestra Nacional de Catalunya, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid. His playing has been broadcast on CBC Radio’s In Concert, WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase, and APM’s Performance Today. Jaeden has appeared in such venues as the Wigmore Hall in London, Weill Recital Hall in New York, Salle Cortot in Paris, and the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid.

Born in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Jaeden earned his Bachelor of Music degree at The Juilliard School under Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky, and his Master of Music degree with Dr. Corey Hamm at the University of British Columbia. He currently studies with Dr. Jacob Leuschner at the Detmold Hochschule für Musik and Dr. Benedetto Lupo at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

Previous winners of the piano edition include Su Yeon Kim, Zoltan Fejervari, Jayson Gillham, Beatrice Rana, and Nareh Arghamanyan.