Juilliard graduate Konstantin Soukhovetski has won the 2007 New Orleans International Piano Competition.

The Russian pianist receives $6,000 in cash and $10,000 in fees from seven 2007-08 season performances, including a Wigmore Hall recital and appearances with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Acadiana Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras.

Born in 1981, Soukhovetski studied music, composition and acting at the Moscow Central School before enrolling at The Juilliard School as a student of Jerome Lowenthal. He also placed second at the 2002 Naumburg International Piano Competition.

His repertoire at New Orleans included Chopin Sonata No. 2, Mozart Sonata K.570, a Haydn Sonata, Liszt-Wagner "Liebestod" from Tristan und Isolde, a Rachmaninov Sonata, Schubert waltzes and Rochberg Carnival Music.

Texan Alexander McDonald took the second prize ($4,000 cash and $2,000 in concert fess) and Michigan-born Christopher Atzinger placed third, receiving $3,000.

The annual New Orleans International Piano Competition is open to pianists of any age. Its most recent laureates are Tanya Bannister, Dustin Gledhill and Alexander Motouzkine.

By Kevin Shihoten