Calgary Herald: Young global pianists to compete at Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary

Calgary Herald
By Eric Volmers

In 1992, pianist Jon Kimura Parker sat on the first competition jury of the Honens International Piano Competition. He was 33 at the time. It was a relatively young age to sit on a jury, particularly given the fact that the oldest competitor that year was 30. “I remember feeling quite intimidated to be on that jury at such a young age,” says Parker, in an interview from his office at Rice University in Houston, where he has been a professor for 21 years. “So it was a big deal for me.”

Among the many memorable moments for Parker was meeting Esther Honens, the philanthropist and amateur pianist who was determined to bring an international music festival to Calgary. She had made a gift of $5 million to endow The Esther Honens International Piano Competition Foundation and the inaugural Honens Competition took place the following year. She was 89.

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Photo Credit: Tara McMullen