With $100,000 top prize, Calgary-based Honens piano competition becomes world's richest

The Honens International Piano Competition announced a long, long list of changes today. The most significant are a decision to pick a single laureate, who will receive a cheque for $100,000, making this the richest prize among the world's piano competitions.

Although the huge purse makes for a great headline, the real news is how the competition is sharpening its desire to shape and build a significant international career rather than just award prizes. Given the proliferation of competitions and the shrinking number of venues and recording opportunities in the Western world, these enhancements are timely and very valuable.

You can read the long and significant list of details here.

The next competition, which concludes in 2012, is open for applications as of Feb. 1.