Ian Hanger AM QC, Chairman

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the 2009 competition.  We are honoured to have a very distinguished panel of jurors headed by Boris Berman who will perform the Emperor Concerto. 

In the past, the Chairman of the Jury has opened the competition with a recital, but on this occasion we invited Mr Berman and the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra to join forces.  We think that this furthers one of the purposes of the competition which is to promote classical music to young people.  The opportunity for the students at the Conservatorium to perform with a soloist of this calibre will doubtless be an experience that they will remember for many years after graduation. 

There were more than 50 entrants who have been auditioned for the competition and 20 of those will come to Brisbane in August, not only to compete but to share the great love is music with their fellow competitors.

I hope to see many of you at some or all of what will be wonderful performances over a period of two weeks. 

Ian Hanger AM QC