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and countries Gustav visited in 2009)
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2008
Gustav is nearly always travelling. (To avoid the perhaps obvious thought that some people might have: his trips to attend piano competitions are not sponsored by the Alink-Argerich Foundation.)
December 2008: Gustav is still extremely busy preparing the new AAF catalogue and the AAF offer for a Reception for all Participants at six international piano competitions in 2009. On December 5th, Gustav visited the Notary who conducted the draw to decide which competitions are offered the AAF support. Gustav also maee a short trip to Paris, to attend the international piano competition for the Prix Animato (AAF), and later in the month, he will also be a few days in Germany.
November 2008: Gustav returned to the Netherlands from Kiev, and stayed at home almost the entire rest of the month, because much work had to be done, especially in preparation of the new AAF catalogue as well as for the Reception for Participants which AAF will gladly support at six international piano competitions in 2009. Although planned, Gustav did not make a short trip to Germany.
October 2008: Gustav was a few days in Dortmund (Germany), and then prepared to go to Hong Kong, where he attended the Hong Kong International Piano Competition (AAF). Immediately after returning to Holland, he was at the finals of the competition in Enschede (AAF). He was only a few days at home before travelling to Kiev, where he attended the finals of the Horowitz Competition for Young Pianists as well as the General Assembly of the EMCY (European Music Competitins for the Youth), where he met with many competition organisers.
September 2008: September and October are always the busiest months, full of international piano competitions. Mid September, Gustav travelled to the competition in San Marino (AAF), and the beginning of September, Gustav specially went to Brussels, for the special service to the memory of Erasmo Capilla, the Mexican violinist who passed away at such young age (43).
August 2008: the beginning of August, Gustav was still in Sydney (Australia), at the piano competition. The weather has turned unpleasantly cold, and he was glad to spend one week in Japan, although it was extremely hot there ...! After returning home, mid August, he had again several meetings with competition organisers. Gustav also received an invitation for a special concert on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam which he attended on August 23rd. He had on his mind to travel afterwards to Austria and Italy (the end of August), to attend the Brahms Competition in Poetrschach (AAF), and the Busoni Competition in Bolzano, but due to too many other obligations and not feeling well enough to undertake another trip again, it was with great regret that he had to cancel these trips.
July 2008: there were several meetings that Gustav had to attend regarding the further development of AAF. There were also quite a few talks and much correspondence with competition organisers regarding advice and suggestions for their events. Then, another trip had to be prepared: to Australia and Japan. Gustav attended the Sydney International Piano Competition from beginning to end, as one of the official observers.
June 2008: Gustav came back from Paris, and later in the month travelled to Moscow for the 2nd Sviatoslav Richter Competition (AAF).
May 2008: a lot of work has to be done, since AAF is expanding very much. It has been decided that AAF will take a new initative to support the contestants at AAF competitions. Soon, this new initiative will be announced. In May, Gustav travelled to Paris. He attended the Concours International de Piano d'Ile de France, organised by Opus Yvelines, taking place in Maisons Laffitte.
April 2008: Gustav attended part of the performances of the Franz Liszt Competition (AAF) in Utrecht. In between, he also travelled to Spain, for the international piano competition in Jaen (AAF), which celebrated its 50th anniversary. Later in April, he was also in Brussels.
March 2008: Gustav did not travel much this month. He had a meeting in Brussels and had to spend much time on administrative matters. Considerable effort was also made in further organising the office for AAF. By phone and e-mail, he stayed in touch with the competitions that were going on in March.
February 2008: Gustav was still in South Africa at the UNISA International Piano Competition in Pretoria. After returning home, he continued with the distribution of the new AAF catalogue, sending out hundreds of copies to pianists, teachers, conservatories and organisers. Gustav went to Brussels, where he met and talked with Martha Argerich again. He then continued to Pontoise (France), where he attended the Piano Campus Competition (AAF). Also on his return trip, he delivered the new AAF catalogue to various people and places in France and Belgium. A few days later, he will very busy doing the same in Germany.
January 2008: Gustav has finished the new AAF catalogue, which has become quite a publication with not less than 104 pages full of useful information about all the AAF competitions. As soon as the catalogue came out, copies were already sent worldwide. It will continue to be freely available to anyone interested. The end of January, Gustav travelled to South Africa, to attend part of the UNISA international piano competition in Pretoria. On the way, he made a stop-over in Egypt, where he attended a special concert in Cairo (and of course, saw some pyramides and greeted a few mummies).
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You may leave a message for Gustav Alink at his home tel.: (+31) 70 - 3634760 which he will check frequently, or send a fax to: (+31) 70 - 3652513.
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