INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PRIVATE DONORS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR  KERIKERI NATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION TRUST

Kerikeri National Piano Competition (KNPC) Trust is a charitable trust which relies entirely on donations from corporate and private donors, or from other charitable trusts. It has NZ’s most acclaimed concert pianist, Michael Houstoun, as its patron, who says of the competition: “It is by far the best test for young pianists in the solo repertoire in this country.” The trust’s primary purpose is to conduct NZ’s most recognised classical music piano competition for young talented pianists, held every second year over 5 days in the first week in July at The Centre, located in Kerikeri in Northland. The competition in 2008 attracted 30 entrants, a record number in its 21 year history, including several from the Asia/Pacific region.

The competition format involves a final group of 18 contestants who, in the presence of an adjudicator with an international reputation, each perform a sonata and a recital from memory under concert performance conditions including a large audience. The format also involves several cocktail receptions, a recital by the adjudicator, and a master class for competitors provided by the adjudicator.

In addition to the competition event, the KNPC Trust holds 4 or 5 piano recital events between competitions, also held at The Centre in Kerikeri, and featuring well-known and acclaimed pianists. In 2009 recitals will feature KNPC’s patron Michael Houstoun performing works by Bach, Brahms, Debussy and Chopin, as well as recitals by Diedre Irons and by John Chen. The purpose of the recitals is not only to entertain but also to maintain the profile of the competition during the 24 months between competitions. Both the recitals and the competition appeal to the musically sophisticated, which spans across all age groups of society.

As mentioned above, the venue for both the recitals and the competition itself is The  Centre in Kerikeri, which is a new facility in the Far North of New Zealand which has only been operating for 3 years. It is the perfect venue for showcasing both national and international events. The Centre boasts a completely refurbished 30 year old concert grand Steinway piano chosen to suit both the acoustics of the venue and the requirements of  KNPC’s piano competition.

The economics of the competition event are that costs are about $80,000, of which the main components are prize money of $25,000, event organization and public relations costs of $20,000, adjudicator costs $6000, venue hire and stage management costs $15000, catering costs $10,000 and advertising costs of $4000. Ticket sales raise about $20,000 and the balance of $60,000 comes from donors, both large and small. The economics of the recitals is that donations totaling about $4,000 are required per recital.

There is significant media interest in the competition, especially since the 2008 competition, which was featured on  North Shore TV, and on TVNZ’s Asia Down Under, Tagata Pasifika, and Close Up programs, as well as on New Tang Dynasty TV. On radio it featured on Newstalk ZB, Upbeat on Concert FM, Arts on Sunday on Radio NZ, and Morning Report. Newspaper coverage included The NZ Herald,  Auckland regional newspapers including the Central Leader, North Shore Times, Harbour News, East Bays News, Western Leader, and Eastern Courier, as well as in The Christchurch Press, The Waikato Times, and in Northland newspapers The Bay Chronicle, The Northland Age, The Bay Report and The Advocate. On the internet it featured on sites such as Eventfinder, The Big Idea, Radio NZ Arts on Sunday website, and of course on KNPC’s own website www.knpc.org.nz .

Private donors willing to provide financial support should in the first instance contact KNPC’s Chairman, Tony Norman by telephone on 021 421052 or via the email contact address on KNPC’s website. Donations can be publicly acknowledged or remain anonymous as the donor prefers, with more substantial donations also entitling the donor to complimentary attendance at KNPC recitals and the next competition event in July 2010.

KNPC looks forward to your support!