New IMZ Member: Honens

Founded in 1992 and based in Calgary, Canada, Honens promotes and fosters excellence in the art of piano performance, sparking and enhancing the public’s appreciation of the piano and piano music.

We are thrilled to welcome our newest member Honens, home of Canada’s International Piano Competition, a champion of excellence in the art of piano performance.

The triennial Honens International Piano Competition is fast approaching! Considered one of the world’s most prestigious events of its kind, applications for the 11th edition open on 4 March, and Quarterfinalists will be announced in December 2024. Semifinal and Final rounds take place in Calgary from 16 to 24 October 2025, and are live-streamed and archived.

Honens searches for the Complete Artist—a pianist who is not only an outstanding virtuoso, but a risk taker, collaborator, and communicator who can express and interpret ideas from a wide cultural context, and whose distinctive voice and versatility demonstrate the level of preparedness necessary to embark upon a professional career.

The Honens Gold Laureate receives a $100,000 CAD cash prize and a comprehensive, three-year artistic and career accelerator programme. Personalised to each Laureate, the programme includes debut recitals; coaching and mentorship; professional recordings; media training; and other valuable support. Past Laureates of Honens include Katherine Chi, Pavel Kolesnikov, Nicolas Namoradze, Illia Ovcharenko, and more.

Honens is always looking for ways to partner and collaborate with other arts organisations worldwide, whether through the Competition, commissioning new programmes like Carnival of the Animals or Honens @ Home, or other digital programme to engage new audiences.