2008 Honens ProAm amateur piano competition raises more than $80,000

CALGARY, AB, June 3, 2008 ’Äì Five Calgarians, all of them accomplished musicians with day-jobs in other professions, took their turn at a 9-foot Steinway concert grand on Saturday night to stake their claim on the 2008 Honens ProAm title. In a surprise twist, two of the pianists walked away winners. Derek Bullen, founder and President of S.i. Systems Ltd and Kieth Mullback, a partner at McCarthy Tˆ©trault LLP tied as 2008 ProAm Champion Prize. Bullen also received the Audience Choice Prize.

Bullen and Mullback and fellow competitors Terry Slabe, Ruth Spivak, and Amy West, each performed a 20- minute recital for a near full-house at The GRAND, and raised more than $80,000 for the prestigious Honens International Piano Competition. Each pianist committed to raising $15,000 individually since signing on to the event last September. They exceeded their fundraising target of $75,000 early last week.

"These five professionals really have nerves of steel,"commented Stephen McHolm, Executive Director of Honens. "They each have demanding careers in other professions but found time to perform at a remarkably high level. Honens is truly lucky to have the support of people like Derek, Kieth, Terry, Ruth, and Amy."

The Honens ProAm jurors were Irene Besse, owner of Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd; Minsoo Sohn, First Laureate, 2006 Honens International Piano Competition; and Joyi Wei, winner of the 2005 Honens ProAm and an engineer with Enbridge Inc.

The Sixth Honens International Piano Competition takes place in Calgary, October 22 to November 6, 2009. For more information about Honens, please visit honens.com.