History of the competition
The ‘Andrée CHARLIER’ piano competition was created in June 1981 by Mr DELCOUX, who was at that time the director of the Ransart School of Music. He wanted to answer Family CHARLIER-BLAMPAIN ‘s wish to keep alive their daughter’s memory, who died in a car accident.
The first competitions were organized in the premises of the School of Music in Ransart.
Since 1986 the competition is open to all pianists who attend a music school organized by the Frenchspeaking Community of Belgium.
In 1988 Mr Lucien CARIAT, who was at that time Deputy Mayor of the City of Charleroi, created the non-profit-making ‘Andrée CHARLIER’ Foundation.
The Board of Directors is in charge of organizing the piano competition.
Mr Arthur CHARLIER, who had long been working to develop the Foundation, died on August 15 in 1996.
He had devoted time and energy and worked with great generosity and an untiring commitment for the benefit of young talents.
The Foundation, very thankful to him, decided to take over his objective and desire to promote music in the Charleroi area, with the help of Mr and Mrs Oscar CHARLIER.
In 1998 the competition evolved and its organisation was re-examined. The obligatory music piece was abandoned. Candidates met in the ‘Centre de Délassement’ of Marcinelle (Charleroi) and took part in two days in the preliminary session and the finals.
In 2006 the Board of Directors decided to organize the piano competition in one single day and in the premises of the ‘Conservatoire GRUMIAUX’ in Charleroi and to plan other cultural and musical events.
The piano competition remains however the main event of the Foundation that is more than ever animated with the desire to promote young talents.
In April 2008 the Board of Directors decided to organize the piano competition at two levels.
Level 1 is open to all pianists who are students from a School of Music, candidates who can give prove of an equivalent private musical education or students registered for a 1st year course in a High School of Music for the year of the piano competition.
Level 2 is open to all pianists who have completed the cycle of High School of Music, at the latest two years ago.