The Comox Valley Piano Society (CVPS) held a provincewide audition for a young pianist to give a solo recital at Courtenay’s Stan Hagen Theatre this spring.
The winner of the opportunity is 16-year old Forest Benson from Vancouver. Benson’s program will feature much-loved works by Haydn, Chopin, Schubert and Scriabin.
Benson has an impressive list of accomplishments. In 2023 he won first place at the BC Concerto Competition, performing Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto at the Orpheum in Vancouver. In addition, he was the grand prize winner at the 2023 Vancouver International Music Competition, and placed first in the Pacific International Youth Music Festival Gala competition. Benson’s talent led to his acceptance at the Young Artists’ Collegiate Program at the Vancouver Academy of Music, where he currently studies with Bogdan Dulu.
The recital is May 25, beginning 2 p.m. at the Stan Hagen Theatre. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth (18 and under), and are available on the CVPS website (comoxvalleypianosociety.com) and at the door. Tthis official solo recital debut is sure to thrill audiences!
CVPS is a non-profit society run by a dedicated group of local piano teachers. The society goes back to the 1990s when a Yamaha grand piano was purchased with the intent of providing Comox Valley students and professional musicians with a high-quality instrument. CVPS has had a long partnership with North Island College (NIC), where the piano resides at the college’s Stan Hagen Theatre.
CVPS would like to thank the following sponsors: North Island Registered Music Teachers’ Association, Long & McQuade and The Westerly Hotel.