Australian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk, 20, was declared winner of the 11th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition on April 13 th in Tel Aviv, and awarded the 1st prize: The Arthur Rubinstein Award Competition Gold Medal and 25,000 USD.

The 11th competition took place in Tel Aviv and Eilat between March 28th and April 13th 2005.

Six years ago, 14-year-old Gavrylyuk moved from the Ukraine to Australia with his teacher and fellow students. Gavrylyuk, who was born in Kharkov to a musical family (his parents work in folk music and his sister, 15, is also a pianist), excelled early and at 16 took first place in the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan . A year later, his career was jeopardized when he suffered head injuries in a bad traffic accident in Australia . He recovered and continued playing.

The international Jury listened to 36 competitors from 17 countries on the first stage, after which 16 continued to the second stage. Gavrylyuk was the only competitor from Australia.

At the Final stage concert, he played Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, op. 23 with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Mendi Rodan.

The director of the Competition is Ms. Idith Zvi; the Artistic Advisor and Chairman of the jury is Prof. Arie Vardi.

www.arims.org.il – competition official website.