The Gurwitz 2020 International Piano Competition will bring 12 of the best emerging piano talents from around the globe to San Antonio Jan. 26 through Feb. 2 to compete for the gold medal and $25,000 cash prize.

The competition is unique in the world of piano competitions for its international dimension: in addition to performing classical compositions of their choice, competitors will present a classical work from their home country or one of Mexican or Spanish origin in a World Music Round. The 12 competitors, selected from a field of 76 entries, are from Russia, China, S. Korea, Italy, Ukraine/Germany, and Canada.

“In the spirit of piano artistry, The Gurwitz presents public competition to discover the next generation of top young pianists from around the world while bridging the art of classical piano with world music that celebrates cultural diversity,” said Anya Grokhovski, DMA, CEO of Musical Bridges Around the World, the organization which runs, manages and produces The Gurwitz 2020.

“Because it pits the best emerging pianists in the world against each other and occurs every four years, it shares similarities with the ancient Olympic tradition,” she said.

The top prize for which finalists will vie is the Gold Medal award of $25,000; second place is the Silver Medal award of $15,000; and third place is the Bronze Medal award of $10,000. There also will be an Audience Favorite Award, an award for the best performance of a work by a Spanish or Latin American composer, and a Junior Jury Award.

The international panel of judges is comprised of world class musicians and industry executives including Maestro Sebastian Lang-Lessing-Music Director of the San Antonio Symphony, concert pianists Olga Kern, Yaron Kohlberg, Boris Slutsky, Carolyn True, and Afa Dworkin, violinist and director of the Sphinx Organization.

Honorary chair of the competition is former San Antonio Spur and NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson, who has appreciated and played music since childhood, including playing the piano.

Of the 12 finalists, five are from Russia, three are from South Korea, and one each is from Italy, Ukraine/Germany, China, Canada. They will participate in four rounds of performance Jan. 27 through Feb. 1, when competitors will perform with the San Antonio Symphony in the final round. An awards brunch concludes the competition on Feb. 2.

The first three rounds of the competition are open to the public free of charge. Tickets may be obtained at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/musical-bridges-around-the-world-5861929267.  Tickets to the fourth and final round with the symphony on Feb. 1 are at https://sasymphony.org/concerts-events/?action=evrplusegister&event_id=104

The jurists will perform in a special concert opening the competition festival Jan. 26 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pearl Stable, 307 Pearl Parkway. Internationally renowned jazz pianist Hiromi of Japan will perform in a festival concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St. Tickets are free.

For more info, www.thegurwitz.org.