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Philosophy makes us accept that the world of culture is the world of values.
Sociology wants culture to represent a way of life where behavior, habits, beliefs and ideologies are inserted.

Anthropology believes that culture may be product of the human elaboration concerned with the production of material and/or spiritual assets, opposed to natural assets offered by nature.

Taking into consideration the modern State structure, the concept that fits better in the modus operandi of the State of Santa Catarina Government is the one offered by Jack Lang, ex-Mitterrand’s Culture Minister, according to whom “culture is the social utilization of human intelligence”.

Maria Montessori, well known pedagogue, used to say that "a child’s intelligence observes with love and not with indifference – this is what lets him see the invisible". The biggest virtue of an artist may be this – keeping alive the capacity of giving shape, color and volume to shadows. And to those who ask the meaning of his work, it’s enough to quote Mário Quintana’s poetic grace: "If anyone asks you what you wanted to say with a poem, ask him what God wanted to say with this world...".

In a country punished by so many basic needs, it’s not rare to hear criticism to the State support of arts, seen as elitist manifestations. To those critics, at least two answers may be given: “We don’t want only food, we want food, fun and art”(Titãs, a Brazilian band), and “Life germinates from two furrows: the one made by the hoe, and the one made by arts, material and symbolic goods. The first gives support; the second, meaning” (Frei Betto, a Brazilian priest).

Despite having its priorities very clear, aiming the social inclusion and the emancipation of the citizens of Santa Catarina, the State Government never forgets the support to the symbolic goods, immaterial asset that nourishes the soul and gives meaning to the future.

It’s for this reason that we support with enthusiasm the initiative of the renowned Russian pianist and teacher living in Brazil, Olga Kiun, and of one of her most talented students, Pablo Rossi, born in Santa Catarina, of promoting the I International Piano Competition of Santa Catarina, whose Jurors will be presided by the world known pianist Arnaldo Cohen.

Going beyond its main mission, which is to promote the social and economic development of the State, the Government considers equally relevant the promotion of culture, inserting Santa Catarina in the circuit of the big cultural events.

A new approach to classical music in Santa Catarina has been built on the basis of a policy that has taken culture to the top of the priorities. Thus we have built new theaters, remodeled others, invested in the incentive to large spectacles and cultural events that made us known in the international media.

Facing the challenge of enabling the maintenance and work of the Santa Catarina orchestras, we’ve created the Orchestra Circuit of Santa Catarina (Circuito Catarinense de Orquestras), program through which we have taken free performances to the farthest cities of Santa Catarina. Classical music interpreted by Santa Catarina musicians explores the feeling of simple people open to the discoveries that art provides, for free.

When we talk about social action, inclusion through culture in its different artistic manifestations, according to the guidelines of the Integrated Tourism Development Plan (Plano de Desenvolvimento Integrado do Turismo), with Culture and Sports, we have materialized such objectives in programs and actions such as the Apotheosis of the Orchestra Circuit of Santa Catarina. This is the principle that rules the incentive of the current Government of Santa Catarina, through its Secretary of State of Tourism, Culture and Sports, with the Funcultural – Fund of Incentive to Culture (Fundo de Incentivo à Cultura)– to Culture and the sustainable development that makes us stand out in the national classification by the excellent social indicators.

The International Piano Competition will be another great product that we will deliver to the people of Santa Catarina and the Brazilians as a cultural and social contribution to the current and future generations. The emotion of the audience in the public space put into to practice the democratic concept of the population access to the cultural product of its land.

R&R Classic, a non-profit organization, located in the city of Florianópolis/SC, founded in 2005, with its proposal of divulging the classical music of quality and with quality, has decided to support the idea presented by Olga Kiun, respected Russian pianist, who has been living in Brazil for 16 years.

Organizing the first edition of the International Piano Competition of Santa Catarina, which will happen in the city of Florianópolis, is a particularly special task. The event will attract the biggest number possible of visitors, provide the meeting of high level talents and the result cannot be less than the enchantment of the natural beauty that the island provokes in its inhabitants and visitors.  

Organizing an event of this size means betting on the potential of everyone who participates as collaborators, and, mainly, adding and exploring all the possibilities within the current proposal. It means directing all the eyes to one single focus:  the art of piano playing.

We are working for the I International Piano Competition of Santa Catarina to be remembered as the biggest event of the classical piano music in the South of Brazil.
Among the main attractions for the participants, the competition will bestow more than 65 thousand dollars in cash prizes, distributed among the 6 finalists, reaching the same level as the important international piano competitions.  

The main attraction, however, is having all the expenses of the 20 semifinalists paid for, including air tickets, room and board and transportation while they are participating in the competition.

For the visitors, the attraction is the exuberant nature of the place, added to the opportunity of attending the opening concert of the competition, the auditions and the prizewinners’ concert, which will close the event.  
As for the inhabitants of Florianópolis, it will be a unique opportunity for social interaction, offering piano music in different moments.  

We count on the hospitality of the people of Santa Catarina, as well as the hotel, tourism and commerce professionals.

We are sure that the city of Florianópolis has all the conditions necessary to be the site of this important event and that it will be a model for all the other cities of Santa Catarina that will be ready to sponsor the next editions of the International Piano Competition of Santa Catarina.

 

Every young musician who starts his professional career, mainly as a concert player, faces innumerous difficulties in this competitive and, sometimes, cruel market. Having an exceptional talent and training is not enough. The big challenge is in finding the opportunity of being heard, appreciated and commented. Currently, one of the “doors” to this magic and desired world is the international competitions that happen in several places in the world.   

The I International Piano Competition of Santa Catarina was created with this objective – offering to young people of all nationalities the opportunity of showing their abilities in the art of piano playing.

It was designed as a manner of propagating the piano music in a State of fascinating scenery and welcoming people. “A land of a thousand ways, of beautiful and definite contrasts” is the perfect scenery to gather the best piano players coming from all parts of the world. The people, used to respecting and living cultural manifestations and traditions, will be especially receptive.  

One of the characteristics of this competition is its itinerant aspect. The International Piano Competition will happen every other year in cities that show artistic and cultural conditions to host such an important event. Florianópolis – the capital city of Santa Catarina – was chosen as the site for the first edition, because it has all the necessary cultural attributions for the competition. The Island of Magic, as Florianópolis is known, will open its doors to an event that is unprecedented in the south of Brazil. Being the site of the first international piano competition means not only being the stage for competitors, jurors and listener; but also investing in the classical music as an instrument of propagation and social integration. The I International Piano Competition of Santa Catarina will be a unique opportunity to listen to renowned pianists gathered in one only space - Teatro Governador Pedro Ivo Campos, and offer the privilege of being in a scenery of rare beauty – Florianópolis.

Be welcome!

 

Bridge Hercílio Luz, Florianópolis, SC | Photo Mikhayl Nesseroff

Florianópolis

Florianópolis, the Island-Capital of Santa Catarina, is located in the center of the State, 475km from Porto Alegre, 696 km from São Paulo, 1,142 km from Rio de Janeiro, 1,549 km from Buenos Aires (Argentina), 1,360 km from Montevideo (Uruguay) and 1,331 from Asuncion (Paraguay).

The International Airport Hercílio Luz, 12 km from downtown, is considered one of the main Brazilian destinations for tourists coming from Brazil and abroad, especially during summer, offering daily flights to the main cities of Brazil and Mercosul.

Its nicknames, Floripa and Ilha da Magia (Island of Magic), picture the city in a loving and mystic manner. This does not hide the real city – it show its enchantment and beauty, generously fascinating.

Elected by the UN as the Brazilian capital with the best quality of life, Florianópolis offers many tourist and cultural attractions to visitors and inhabitants: magnificent and varied beaches; wonderful landscape; preserved historical and ecological sites, such as Ponte Hercílio Luz, the fortresses, the historical buildings, the centenary churches, the old customhouse, the Municipal Public Market, Cruz e Souza Palace, Lagoa do Peri, Lagoinha do Leste, Morro da Cruz, the dunes, the ecological trails.

To all these beautiful places, there are other elements: an excellent hotel chain of international level, hundreds of inns, flats, resorts, bed and breakfasts and cottages. Besides this, it offers a special regional gastronomy: the dishes based on seafood, in simple and welcoming restaurants, are the main culinary attraction in Florianópolis – considered the biggest oyster producer in Brazil. However, the city also offers a large number of sophisticated restaurants, where different dishes of international cuisine are offered, of the most different specialties.

Even though tourism is the main economic activity of Florianópolis, there are other categories that are important: technology and computing centers, occupying a relevant place in the national context, and the innovating entrepreneurship.

More than one million people go through Floripa during the summer season. Besides this, the warmth of its people, the natural beauty and the high index of social development have made Florianopolis the place of choice for several foreigners and Brazilians from other states to live.

The fascinating Island of Magic invites you for a visit!

 

More information

Do you want to know more about the city where the competition will be held?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian%C3%B3polis
http://www.florianopolis.info/index.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQFoUL44Ss