THE Australian International Chopin Piano Competition continues apace, with the not-to-be-missed Finals coming up at Llewellyn Hall this Sunday, September 21.

Organised by the ANU School of Music in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra and the Friends of Chopin Australia, it has announced the six semi-finalists: Maciej Wota, 22, from Poland; Elina Akselrud, 24, from Ukraine/USA; Daria Kameneva, 27, from Russia; Lukasz Krupinski, 20, from Poland; Kotaro Nagano, 25, from Japan; and Piotr Nowak, 20, from Poland.

The semi-finals will be broadcast live today over the internet at http://control.5stream.com/events/?id=776 Dr Erin Helyard and Professor Peter Tregear of the ANU School of Music will be MCing the sessions.

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 20, will be devoted to the School’s historic 1847 Pleyel grand piano.

Session 1 will be a lecture by historian Dr Gemma Betros on the Pleyel company, titled “Pleyel et Cie: Making Music in Revolutionary Europe”. This lecture will be interspersed with chamber performances of music by Pleyel and his contemporaries (including Chopin) with special guest artists the Enigma String Quartet and others.

There will also be a short introduction to the ANU School of Music’s extensive period keyboard collection by Dr Helyard. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

Session 2 will be a performance on the Pleyel piano of Chopin’s 24 Preludes, performed by the Competition’s international guest juror Professor Wojciech Switala.

Professor Switala’s performance will be introduced briefly by Dr Stephen Loy. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. A discount for purchasing tickets to both sessions applies.

Three competitors will contest for their final rankings in the competition in the final on Sunday September 21, starting at 11am. They will perform either Chopin’s 1st or 2nd piano concerto. Chopin himself orchestrated this concerto for string quintet to play in salons and country estates when an orchestra was not available. The Enigma String Quartet will be accompanying the soloists, with the addition of a guest double bass and after the Prize Winning Ceremony, the winners will perform a Winners’ Recital.

The Australian International Chopin Piano Competition, visit www.friendsofchopin.org.au/competition.html for more information on repertoire. Bookings for the Finals and Winners’ Recital, or a day pass, to http://premier.ticketek.com.au/