On September 20th at 3PM, the Connecticut Alliance for Music (CAM) kicks off its 2015-16 Sunday House Concert Series with an unprecedented solo and duo-piano concert by Josh Wright and Timur Mustakimov, co-winners of the 2013 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition, at the studio of the Silvermine School of Music in Norwalk. These remarkable pianists were so exceptional in that contest that the competition judges could not decide who to award its First Prize. After much deliberation and with the support of CAM, the Competition’s host, the judges declared Josh Wright and Timur Mustakimov co-winners.
Dr. Josh Wright earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Master of Music degree and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Utah. Josh was a prize winner at the 2015 National Chopin Competition and also won the Mazurka prize. He won third prize and the audience prize at the 2014 Washington International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2013 Heida Hermanns International Music Competition, first prize at the 2013 Rosamond P. Haeberle Piano Award competition, the gold medal at the 2010 Seattle International Piano Competition and first prize at the 2010 American Protége International Competition of Romantic Music. He was the second prize winner of the 2011 Music Teachers National Association National Competition and also a top prize winner in the New York Piano Competition, the Louisiana International Piano Competition, and the Julia Crane International Piano Competition. He has released five albums, including My Favorite Things (2013), Josh Wright (2011), Gaspard (2010), The Complete Chopin Etudes (2003) and Josh Wright Debut (2000).
Russian pianist Timur Mustakimov was born in Nizhnekamsk and began his piano studies at the age of nine. At 12, he won the regional piano competition in the Republic of Tatarstan. Timur entered the Special Music School for Gifted Children in Kazan and won the top prize in the Bach competition. Timur was a prize winner at the Russian Piano Competition, the International Piano Competition in Kiev and the Jacob Flier Competition. In 2006, he entered the Kazan State Conservatory and was their representative at the Conservatory Week Festival in St. Petersburg. In 2011, Timur was awarded a Master’s Degree in Music at Mannes College in New York City. In 2013, he won a concerto competition; as the winner, he performed with the Mannes Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Timur also won first prize in the 2013 Heida Hermanns International Music Competition and last year took home the gold prize at the 2014 New Tang Dynasty Television International Piano Competition, held at Carnegie Hall. In 2015, he became the youngest nominated member of The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, the oldest continuing musical organization in the US. Timur has been invited to perform in the 2016 spring season of the Jupiter Chamber Players Festival and has also been asked to perform several recitals throughout the US. Timur is pursuing his Doctoral Degree at Temple University.
Following a European tradition, CAM presents house concerts each year which are attended by CAM’s members and others interested in experiencing fine music presented in small, intimate settings. This year, in addition to Josh and Timur, other former winners of the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition will be featured in house concerts in Norwalk, Westport and the surrounding area.
Please visit www.CAMusic.org for complete details on CAM, its upcoming season of events and to purchase tickets.