At age 21, he won HONENS | Ep. 23: This is the Legend of Illia Ovcharenko

In 2022, at age 21, he became the first Ukrainian pianist and the youngest person to win Honens, aka Canada’s Grand Slam of international piano competitions, in the most cathartic year of recent history.

But it almost did not happen.

This is the Legend of Illia Ovcharenko.

Join Amos Vang as he features the legendary path of Illia Ovcharenko’s piano career, Ukraine’s rich music traditions, Ukraine’s strong educational foundations in music and culture, Illia’s path to winning the Busoni International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition, and the impact that all of Illia’s cultural influences had on him.

Illia’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCU7_grgiVXQeNV4C8aNG2EQ 
Illia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illiaovcharenko_pianist/?hl=en

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Other music composed by: Amos Vang

-- CHAPTERS --
0:00 – Introduction
3:18 – What inspired Illia Ovcharenko to pursue piano?
6:56 – What were Illia Ovcharenko’s early musical stylistic influences?
10:13 – What were the greatest challenges that Illia Ovcharenko faced early on in his life?
13:15 – What is the curriculum at the Kyiv Lysenko State Music Lyceum?
16:52 – Unlike Canada, Ukraine builds a strong musical foundation into its educational programs, regardless of whether one chooses to pursue a musical career.
18:36 – Ukraine has central music academies across the country.  Canada has hockey academies across the country.
20:33 – Practising…so important, but it can get monotonous…
21:05 – This is what Illia Ovcharenko does BEFORE he starts practising.
21:48 – Illia Ovcharenko’s practise strategy is very community-oriented, which is different from many pianists’ individualistic practising routine.
25:19 – Music is supposed to be FUN!  Life experience defines the musical performance.
27:10 – Illia Ovcharenko made his performing debut at 12 years old!
29:01 – Arie Vardi is Illia’s teacher, mentor, and inspiration.
37:10 – What was Illia Ovcharenko’s preparation experiences for the 2021 Busoni International Piano Competition?
42:12 – What inspired Illia Ovcharenko to HONE IN ON HONENS?!
45:36 – Illia Ovcharenko ALMOST DID NOT COMPETE IN HONENS!!!!!
47:33 – Illia Ovcharenko went from almost not making the competition to WINNING HONENS, in the most CATHARTIC YEAR OF 2022!!!!!
53:16 – Amos Vang and Illia Ovcharenko discuss Illia’s Honens performance of Liszt’s Sonata in B minor.
59:03 – Amos Vang describes his experience performing Liszt’s Dante Sonata.
1:00:28 – How do Illia’s performative work and educational work with Honens influence each other?
1:03:13 – What is musicality to Illia Ovcharenko?
1:06:49 – What is the Complete Artist to Illia Ovcharenko?
1:10:52 – How do new audiences watch and enjoy piano competitions such as Honens?
1:15:23 – Amos Vang calls Honens the “Canadian Grand Slam of International Piano Competitions”!!!!!
1:16:44 – What are the greatest misconceptions that Illia Ovcharenko has seen about classical music?
1:20:05 – Did O Canada copy Mozart?