Centenary hosts 72nd Wideman Piano Competition December 1-3
SHREVEPORT, LA – Centenary’s Hurley School of Music is proud to once again host the Wideman International Piano Competition, celebrating its 72nd year in 2023. The competition will run December 1 through 3 in Hurley’s Anderson Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public on Friday and Saturday. Patrons attending the finale rounds on December 3 are encouraged to make a donation of $10 per person to help support the competition.
The 2023 Wideman Competition features 34 international contestants representing Armenia, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Russia/Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.
The contestants study at premier music schools in the United States, including the New England Conservatory, The Juilliard School, University of Miami, Frost School, Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, Park University, University of Michigan, Southern Methodist University, University of Iowa, University of Texas, Texas Christian University, Mannes School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, University of Missouri- Kansas City, and Rice University.
The Wideman Competition was founded in 1950 by the late Nena Plant Wideman, a prominent Shreveport piano teacher, concert pianist, and member of the Centenary College piano faculty, and by the late John Shenaut, conductor and founder of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Alon Goldstein, winner of the 1996 Wideman competition, is the current artistic director, assisted by Regina Tanujaya.
The first rounds of competition will be held Friday, December 1, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Finale performances will be Sunday, December 3, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Doors open 15 minutes prior to the start time for each event. Please check the Wideman website for updated information.
More information about the Wideman Competition is available at widemanpianocompetition.com.