Gilmore Artist Award

Kirill Gerstein has been named the sixth pianist to receive this award.

For the previous Gilmore Artists, scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on "Read more" to read about a specific artist.

About The Gilmore Artist Award

In 1989 trustees of the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation of Kalamazoo, Mich., announced plans to honor the memory of Irving S. Gilmore, a local businessman and philanthropist, by creating a piano award and festival in his name. But the award they conceived was dramatically different from others, most of which are based on competitions. Gilmore Award candidates are not judged in a competition, but rather they are evaluated discreetly and over a period of time and numerous performances for their musicianship and performing abilities.

The Gilmore Artist Award is presented to an international pianist of any age and nationality who is deemed worthy of a global career. The award recognizes extraordinary artistry with some of the most generous financial support given in the musical arts. The $300,000 award is given every four years to an exceptional pianist who

• regardless of age or nationality, is a superb pianist and profound musician
• has both charisma and breadth of musicianship
• desires and can sustain a career as a major international concert artist and can make a real impact on music
• has a developing career that can be enhanced by the award’s money and prestige

The Gilmore Artist Award selection process was created as an alternative to traditional music competitions.

Unlike winners of most of the other major musical awards, the Gilmore Artist is determined through a selection that might be termed “noncompetitive,” at least in the usual sense. Pianists under scrutiny do not know that they have been nominated. This process distinguishes the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival from other major international competitions. Nominations are received from a wide range of sources, including a large designated group of international musical performers and educators who are polled biennially for their suggestions. Recordings, preferably made during concert performances, of those nominated are then assessed by a six-member Artistic Advisory Committee appointed by the director of The Gilmore. The committee narrows the field of nominees to several finalists. Committee members travel to hear the artists anonymously in performances that are part of the candidates’ established concert schedule. Only then does the committee make the final choice.

The intention behind this lengthy and complicated process is to evaluate candidates’ work over a sustained period, rather than judging their achievements during the course of a highly concentrated and intensely competitive set of conditions. Because candidates do not know they are under consideration, in the end there is a winner, but there are no “losers.”

The award involves a number of appearances at the Gilmore Festival. Award monies are intended to enhance the artist’s musicianship and/or career.

The philosophy of noncompetition is a tribute to Mr. Gilmore, who spent his wealth on others – particularly pianists – quietly and without fanfare. To learn more about Irving S. Gilmore, please read his biography.

The Gilmore Artists