Organizers of the Rachmaninoff Junior Piano Competition approached the city earlier this year about hosting the first junior version of the international competition, which they said would bring Glendale cultural prestige. But city officials have hesitated because of the financial commitment.
“This doesn’t come to you with, frankly, staff support,” City Manager Jim Starbird said Tuesday. “My concern is that frankly we don’t have this in the budget.”
In 2002, Pasadena hosted the first Rachmaninoff competition, with the mayor personally raising 20% of the competition’s $1-million budget. Since then, two more competitions have been in Los Angeles at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The proposed competition, which would be open to pianists younger than 18 from around the world, would take place in October at the Alex Theatre, according to the proposal from Armen TerTatevosian, president of International Competitions and Festivals Inc., the contest’s organizer.
On Tuesday, council members directed the city’s Arts & Culture and Parks, Recreation & Community Services commissions to further study the feasibility of raising $100,000 or more from within the community to support the competition.
Last month, a special committee made up of members from both commissions voted unanimously to recommend that the city host the competition, which they said could bring the city much-needed cultural prestige.
Councilman Dave Weaver said he was skeptical the community would be able to come up with adequate funds at a time when many nonprofits are scraping to get by.
“All the nonprofits that are trying to raise money with events are not successful,” he said, citing the popular Love Ride fundraiser, which was canceled this year due to lack of funds.
