The Louisiana International Piano Competition staged our initial competition in October, 2005. This first effort at producing a superior world-class cultural offering was wildly successful by any measure. Our local community and the citizens of Louisiana-at-large, began anticipating future competitions even as the initial competition was unfolding. Thanks to the energies of at least one hundred volunteers and significant support from the City of Alexandria, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Louisiana College, Northwestern State University; major foundation and corporate support from the Huie-Dellmon Trust, Murphy Oil, Caroline and Jim Theus, Mrs. Virginia Martin Howard, The Martin Foundation, Coughlin-Saunders Foundation, Yamaha International and Red River Music; the LIPC is pleased to announce that the Third Biennial Louisiana International Piano Competition is scheduled for October 12-17, 2009.

The International Piano Competition is designed to attract the world's most promising young concert artists. The competition is the "brain-child" of one of central Louisiana's most extraordinary concert artists and educators, Nikita Fitenko. His inspired vision for world-class competition centered in Alexandria, Louisiana, has promoted enormous support from other music professionals and volunteers. Our regional symphony, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Joshua Zona, is partnering with the LIPC in the planning and implementation of our 2009 competition.

Some of what makes our competition appealing is our ability to deliver Southern Hospitality. Many of the 2005 and 2007 competitors remain in contact with their host families and competition organizers. Dizhou Zhao, the First Place Prize Winner of the 2007 competition, performed this summer in St. Petersburg Russia with the Philharmonic Orchestra. This performance was a portion of the prize for the winner of the competition. Members of the LIPC committee and a group of our local supporters traveled to hear this magnificent concert. In addition to the warm welcome we afford those who participate in the competition, we can assure participants that the LIPC is administered with great attention to detail and that we demand integrity at every turn.

The competition will again be centered at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center, and will include master classes, educational workshops, and a Junior Competition at Louisiana College as well as related functions at the Kress Theatre, the River Oaks Arts and Crafts Center, and the Alexandria Museum of Art. The competition will be held bi-annually on odd numbered years.

Advisory Board

Joseph Banowetz
Boris Berman
Sergei Dorensky
Claude Frank
Marian Lapsansky
Paul Schenly
Nelita True

Governing Board

Nikita Fitenko,
Artistic Director

Mary C. Sparks, Executive Director

Joshua Zona,
Musical Director,
Rapides Symphony Orchestra

Katerina Zaitseva,
Associate Executive Director; Junior Level Competition Coordinator

David Holcombe,
Chair, Competition Committee;
Chair, Host Committee

Peter Moriarty,
Chair, Applications Processing

Caroline Theus, Chair,
Development Committee

Kathey Hunter, Chair
Finance Committee

Barbara Domingos, Finance Committee

Laura Weems, Chair, Gala

Mira Alexius,
Committee Member

Pat D'Amico,
Chair, PR Committee

Pam Wallace,
Committee Member

Margaret Waring,
Committee Member