Many piano competitions are similar to each other, as the goal is to identify the best pianists who have entered. However, I would like that the atmosphere of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition will develop into a more creative process under the guidance of world-renowned musicians in the jury, and give the opportunity to young pianists to let their talent fully bloom.
Our competition already holds a privileged place in the music world, as it was created on the basis of a famous and prestigious European music festival. In this context each contestant has the opportunity to appear in the light of a great musical event and, of course, this gives a significant advantage to our winners.
I wish the best of luck to all the participants!
Epifanio Comis was student of Agatella Catania, Lazar Berman and Pietro Rattalino. He has toured as a soloist throughout Europe, Asia, Russia, and the United States. He has performed with numerous world class orchestras including the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest, the Karlovy Vary Symfonic Orchestra, the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra of California, the Orquestra Sinfonica UANL, Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre Orchestra, Sicilian Symphony Orchestra, the Osaka Symphoniker, the Kyoto Symphony. His recitals in the USA and Asia have brought him great critical acclaim.
Epifanio Comis gives masterclasses in important academies and universities like Manhattan School of Music, Chopin Academy Warsaw, Royal Conservatoire Mons, Ecole Normale in Paris, Tchaikovsky Conservatory Moscow and Bucarest Music Academy. He performed in prestigeous halls such as Discoteca di Stato di Roma, Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre, Sala delle Erbe di Milano, Steinway Hall in New York, Symphony Hall in Osaka, Carnegie Hall in New York and many others. Comis is also active as a conductor. Last concerts he conducted are Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos, Rhapsody and the Second Symphony with Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre Orchestra in Catania and in Moscow.
He is a very acclaimed teacher. His students achieve top prizes in the most important world piano competitions such as Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition, Queen Elisabeth Competition, Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition, International Tchaikovsky Competition Moscow etc. In 2013 he was awarded with the “Sergei Rachmaninov International Award” together with Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev and Nicolai Lugansky by the Moscow Conservatory.
Comis has a varied career as soloist and conductor and he is a professor at Vincenzo Bellini State Conservatory in Catania where he is also director.
