CompetitionYPF Piano Competition 2019The 7th edition of the YPF Piano Competition/Grand Prix Youri Egorov will take place from 25 January till 10 February 2019. Since the start in 1999, the YPF competition has always focused on the pedagogical benefit for the participants. The competition is to be observed as a crucial link in the overall music education of the young pianists in our country. We therefore invite every young pianist to take up the challenge and present themselves on the stage and play before a jury of international master pianists and pedagogues. The competition has a gradual build up, spread over four rounds, with different age categories. On top of the categorized competition is the Grand Final, which doesn’t recognize a discernment in age categories. Finally, in case the winner of the competition is a pianist of exceptional musical and pianistic quality of international level, the jury may award the highest distinction, the Grand Prix Youri Egorov.The YPF Piano Competitions starts as of 25 January 2019 at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. Free entrance. Time schedule will follow. The YPF Piano Competitions concludes with ‘A tribute to Youri Egorov’ and the Grand Final on 9 and 10 February 2019 in Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. You can buy your tickets for Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 February 2019 here.What the Young Pianist Foundation does for the young piano talents in the Netherlands is unique and essential to their artistic development. Thanks to the competition the level of playing has remarkably increased in recent years. Retrospect on the YPF Preparation Day (11 November 2018)On Sunday 11th November 2018, the YPF Preparation Day at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam took place. Participants, parents and teachers enjoyed the interesting, personal and often also hilarious contributions by Marcel Baudet, David Kuyken, Thomas Beijer, Jean-Bernard Pommier and Ramon van Engelenhoven. After the official program there was time to meet up, exchange experiences, ask questions and to get a portret taken by the photographer.A very successful afternoon and a great way to continue preparing for the YPF Piano Competition 2019 full of energy! Thomas BeijerBy winning the YPF Piano Competition 2007 Thomas Beijer (1988) placed himself at the top of a new generation of young pianists in the Netherlands. The International Jury described him as “a musically very interesting personality with distinctive ideas about music. A true artist.”For the YPF Piano Competition 2019 Thomas Beijer has composed a new work ‘Variations on a theme by Chopin’, which will be performed as an obligatory work at the Finale of the YPF Piano Competition 2019. You can download the work here. Thomas Beijer