Current head of the Cleveland International Piano Competition Pierre van der Westhuizen has been named the next director of the Irving S Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards.
Starting in January 2018, van der Westhuizen will succeed The Gilmore’s current director Daniel Gustin, who will retire next year after 18 years at the head of the organisation.
Van der Westhuizen joined CIPC in 2011, using a festival approach to expand the competition into a far-reaching organsiation with a young artists contest, concert series, community outreach, master classes and orchestral performances. The South African almost doubled the revenue for the competition.
He said: “The prospect of being part of an organization as unique, forward-thinking, and creative as The Gilmore is incredibly exciting to me. I look forward to being part of the vibrant future of this cultural gem.”
Van der Westhuizen was named among Musical America’s 30 Music Professionals of the Year in 2015.
Cynthia Kole, president of The Gilmore’s board of trustees, said: “We are delighted that Pierre will be leading The Gilmore. His passion for music, his warm personality, and his creative vision will propel The Gilmore Festival and Awards into the next exciting phase.”
Daniel Gustin said: “I am happy to turn over the reins of The Gilmore to Pierre, who I know will take the organisation to ever greater heights.”