Honens believes that a Complete Artist explores both the pivotal works of the piano literature and the music of our time. Not only are competitors encouraged to include both in their programs, Semifinalists are also required to include a new work commissioned by Honens. This demonstrates their ability to approach and study contemporary and modern repertoire.
Iman Habibi
Hailed as “a giant in talent” (Penticton Herald), “whose technical mastery is matched by his musical and cultural literacy,” (Hudson-Housatonic Arts) Iman Habibi’s is an Iranian-Canadian pianist and composer. His music and performances have been programmed by Carnegie Hall and the Marilyn Horne Foundation (New York), Tanglewood Music Festival (Massachusetts), the Canadian Opera Company and Tapestry Opera (Toronto), New York Festival of Song, Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center, Vox Novus (New York), Atlantic Music Festival (Maine), the BCScene Festival (Ottawa), and the Powell Street Festival (Vancouver), among others.
He has received numerous awards including First Prize at the SOCAN Foundation’s Awards for Young Audio Visual Composers for two consecutive years (2011-2012), The International Composers’ Award at the Esoterics’ POLYPHONOS (2012), The Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Awards for Emerging Artist in Music (2011), Brehm Prize in Choral Music (2016).
His portfolio of compositions includes dozens of commissions for orchestra, choir, chambers ensembles, soloists, and film. Habibi earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan under the mentorship of professors Evan Chambers, Michael Daugherty, and Bright Sheng. Iman Habibi is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre and is represented by SOCAN in Canada.
As a pianist, Habibi’s recent appearances included a performance of Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as the premiere of his concerto for two pianos and orchestra, Amesha Spenta, with Ann Arbor Camerata. He has performed his own Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Atlantic Music Festival and the Prince George Symphony orchestras. Habibi is well-known for his collaborations with his wife, pianist Deborah Grimmett. The two formed a duo in 2010, Piano Pinnacle, which won first prize at the United States International Duo Piano Competition.