International piano competitions: their lure, their lore (an introduction)

2013-07-31This book-introduction chapter begins an in-depth study of international piano competitions. It initiates the conversation about this modern phenomenon, looking back at how they came to be, questioning how they currently function, and examining how they have, indelibly, altered classical music. From diverse vantage points, the chapter starts to consider how competitions affect not only young pianists, but also teachers, institutions, and audiences worldwide. Finally, it imagines alternatives to this now-entrenched route to professional pianism