Fred Pattison Piano Competition
The Fred Pattison Piano Award at the Don Wright Faculty of Music is awarded to the winner of an annual piano competition. In addition to receiving a cash award, the winner will give a public performance the following academic year. Proceeds from the Fred Pattison Award Fund support the annual competition and cash prize.
Dr. Pattison was Western’s former Head of Chemistry (1959-65) and Director of Student Health Services (1973-88). He passed away in August 2010. Dr. Pattison had a great passion for the piano and spent many hours enjoying performances in von Kuster Hall at the Faculty of Music. This award reflects his love of music and his desire to reward excellence in piano performance. 2008-09 was the inaugural year for this competition.
Application
2025-26 Competition details TBA.
2024-25 information included in the meantime for reference.
Last Year's Deadline (2026 TBA)
Friday, Jan. 10 2025 | 12pm
To register, students must email the following information to mpsdept@uwo.ca:
- Student name
- Repertoire for each round, including the duration of each piece (10 mins for Round One, 20-30 mins for the Final Round)
- In lieu of a signature, copy your studio teacher on the email.
Competition Overview
The Fred Pattison Piano Award is awarded to a first-, second-, third-, or fourth-year full-time student enrolled in a Music Degree program, whose principal instrument is piano. Fourth year students can only participate if they are returning for a Master of Music program the following year. Repertoire is limited to solo piano works only; concertos are not permitted.
The competition consists of two rounds:
Round One – Live Audition
Students should prepare 10 minutes of music for Round One, which will be performed live in front of the adjudicator only. This round is not open to the public. A maximum of 10 minutes of music should be chosen carefully to demonstrate technique, range, and musicality. Repertoire performed in Round One may also be repeated in the Final Round.Final Round – Public Performance
Each of the finalists will perform a minimum of 20 minutes to a maximum of 30 minutes of solo repertoire for the adjudicator and a live audience. Participants must perform the final round program as submitted in their registration.Results will be announced upon conclusion of the final round.
Finalists will also perform in a masterclass for the adjudicator on a subsequent date.
2026 Performances and Masterclass Information
Thursday, Jan. 16 | 8pm | von Kuster Hall (approx. 1.5h duration)
2024 Fred Pattison Award Competition Winner
Solo piano concert featuring student winner Kai Melconian
Friday, Jan. 17 | 8pm | von Kuster Hall (approx. 2h duration)
2025 Fred Pattison Piano Award Competition – Final Round
Saturday, Jan. 18 | 10am | von Kuster Hall (approx. 2.5h duration)
Fred Pattison Piano Masterclass
Fred Pattison Piano Masterclass with this year's adjudicator Michael Esch featuring 2025 competition finalists.
2026 Adjudicator Biography
Canadian-Israeli pianist, Michael Berkovsky, made his New York debut at Avery Fisher Hall and has toured as a soloist in Ireland, Costa Rica, Japan, Italy, Israel, Canada, and the United States. He has won numerous international piano competition awards and has performed under the baton of Vladimir Feltsman, Stefan Sanderling, Leon Fleisher, William Noll, among others. His recordings were featured on 96.3 Classical FM and CBC Radio. He has most recently recorded for the RCM piano syllabus due to be released in 2022.
Michael maintains a competitive studio, in which numerous of his students have been awarded top prizes in national and international piano competitions such as Van Cliburn Junior, Cleveland International, Bösendorfer-Yamaha, Canadian Chopin, Canadian Music Competition, among others. Graduates from his studio went on to study at top schools such as the Juilliard School, Yale University, New England Conservatory, among others.
Michael frequently collaborates with numerous chamber groups and award-winning musicians, including Jasper string quartet and musicians from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Opera Company. Michael is involved in the cultural life of his community in Toronto and often performs with local groups like the Kindred Spirit Orchestra, York Symphony Orchestra and many others. In addition he is also actively engaged in piano duo recitals with his wife, Coral Berkovsky-Solomon.
Michael serves as artistic advisor for the Canadian Music Competition and is regularly invited to adjudicate competitions around the country, as well as for masterclasses and teacher workshops. Most recently, he has served as president of the Canadian chapter of the George Enescu International Music Festival. He was a guest artist at numerous international festivals, including Arts Naples and Music Niagara Festival.
Born in the former Soviet Union, Michael immigrated to Israel in 1990. He has studied with Nataly Litvinova and was mentored by Alexander Slobodyanik and Ilya Itin. In 2001, his family moved to Toronto, Canada. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from The Juilliard School where he studied with Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin. He was a recipient of the America Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships from 1994-2001, and with the recommendation of Maestro Valery Gergiev, was awarded White Nights Foundation Scholarships while studying at Juilliard. In 2011, he completed his Doctoral degree at the Peabody Conservatory of the John Hopkins University while under the tutelage of Professor Yong Hi Moon.
Previous Winners
2024-25
Congratulations to Sophie Huang, winner of the 2025 Fred Pattison Competition. We look forward to Sophie's Winner’s Recital on January 15, 2026 This year’s competition was adjudicated by Michael Esch.
2023-24
Congratulations to Kai Melconian, winner of the 2024 Fred Pattison Competition. Kai’s Winner’s Recital took place on January 16, 2025 This year’s competition was adjudicated by Shoshana Telner.
2022-23
Congratulations to Terrence Wu, winner of the 2023 Fred Pattison Competition. We look forward to Terrence’s Winner’s Recital on January 18, 2024. This year’s competition was adjudicated by David Rogosin.
2021-22
Congratulations to Songlee Kim, winner of the 2022 Fred Pattison Competition. Songlee's public performance was given on January 19, 2023 in von Kuster Hall. This year’s competition was adjudicated by Li Wang.
2020-21
Congratulations to Ian Pepper, winner of the 2021 Fred Pattison Competition. This year’s competition was adjudicated by James Parker.
2019-20
Congratulations to Terrence Wu, winner of the 2020 Fred Pattison Competition. Terrence's livestream public performance was recorded on February 4, 2021 in von Kuster Hall. This year’s competition was adjudicated by Sofya Bugayan.
2018-19
Congratulations to Kevin Lu, winner of the 2019 Fred Pattison Competition. Kevin's public performance was given on January 23, 2020 in von Kuster Hall. This year’s competition was adjudicated by Yael Weiss.
2017-18
Congratulations to Elizabeth Vogel, winner of the 2018 Fred Pattison Competition. Elizabeth's public performance was given on Thursday, January 24, 2019 in von Kuster Hall. This year’s competition was adjudicated by Enrico Elisi.
2016-17
Congratulations to Ethan Lacey, winner of the 2017 Fred Pattison Competition. His public performance was given on Thursday, January 25, 2018 in von Kuster Hall. This year’s competition was adjudicated by David Jalbert.
2015-16
Congratulations to James Masschelein winner of the 2016 Fred Pattison Piano Competition. His public performance was given on Thursday, January 26, 2017 in von Kuster Hall. This year's competition was adjudicated by Jimmy Brière.
2014-15
Congratulations to Bryce Lansdell winner of the 2015 Fred Pattison Piano Competition. His public performance was given on Thursday, January 28, 2016 in von Kuster Hall.
2013-14
Congratulations to Dan Luong winner of the 2014 Fred Pattison Piano Competition.
2012-13
Congratulations to Vladimir Soloviev winner of the 2013 Fred Pattison Piano Competition .
2011-12
Bryn Blackwood was the winner of the 2012 Fred Pattison Piano Competition on Friday January 27, 2012. Bryn presented a recital on Thursday January 24, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. in von Kuster Hall.
2010-11
Congratulations to Vladimir Soloviev who won the 2011 Fred Pattison Piano Competition! All three finalists played brilliantly - the other two were Edgar Robert Suski and Brian Barber. Attending the competition were Mrs. Anne Pattison and their daughter Elizabeth. The 8:00 p.m. final round concert marked the first time the Don Wright Faculty of Music presented a live streamed event. Vladimir presented a recital on Thursday January 26, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. in von Kuster Hall.
2009-10
Ingrid Gan was the winner of the 2009-10 Fred Pattison Competition. Ingrid was a student of Gwen Beamish.
2008-09
Congratulations to Neal Cabigon, winner of the inaugural Fred Pattison Competition. Neal came to Western after a year in the Science Faculty of his hometown University of Regina, Saskatchewan. He is in the third year of the Honours Performance program. (left to right: Mrs. Pattison, Dr. Pattison, Sara Laimon (Adjudicator), Neal Cabigon)
Contact Information
Kyung Kim, D.M.A
Fred Pattison Competition Co-ordinator
519-661-2111 85368
kkim487@uwo.ca
