Congratulations to the WINNER of our 2023 Robert B. Beardsley Piano Competition: 

Pablo Valladares

Pablo Valladares is a talented pianist and dedicated teacher from Quito, Ecuador. He's taken his music to audiences in China, Italy, Austria, the United States, and his home country. Pablo started his musical journey at Drake University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance. He continued his studies at Western Michigan University, earning a Master's degree in the same field. Currently, he's pursuing a Performance Diploma at Roosevelt University in Chicago, studying with Professors Edward Auer and Junghwa Moon Auer. At just 16, Valladares made his international debut at the University of Texas. Pablo has performed in Ecuador's famous theaters and on international stages. He's won awards, including the Drake University Concerto Competition and the Young Talent Competition by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador. Aside from performing, Pablo is passionate about teaching. He has shared his knowledge and love of music at various institutions, inspiring students to explore their musical potential.

Our 2nd and 3rd place winners are Luca Pompilio and Wilson David Casallas! Congrats!

And the Winner Is...

Past Beardsley Competition Winners

2017 - Nicholas Roth

2018 - Nicholas Susi

2019 - Yixiang Hou

2020 - Hyeseon Jin

2021 - Daniel Lin

2022 - Chi Hoi "Jimmy" Cheung

2023 - Pablo Valladares

About the Beardsley Cup

The Beardsley Cup, composed of sterling silver and manufactured in 1907 in London, resides in a new custom built display case with the names of the winners of the Beardsley Competition. The inaugural recipient in 2017, Nicholas Roth, was named in recognition of his long devotion to Ruthmere and its Fall Concert Series. Subsequent competition winners’ names are added annually to the display, enhancing the lore of piano performances at Ruthmere. Please contact Ruthmere Museum at (574) 264-0330 ext. 107 if you have any questions regarding the competition or the entry requirements.