the strings. I was pleasantly surprised to discover no difference between this and the normal upright piano mode – my playing was not not compromised in any way. There is no question that the digital piano sound allows players to enjoy an extremely realistic piano-playing experience.

In addition to the instrument’s three playing functions, the AURES’s soundboard can be used as a speaker for playing music from a tablet or smartphone. The possibility of filling a living-room with sound from a piano is a special and unique concept – almost like owning a player-piano, but one that can play all kinds of music rather than just piano pieces. With a Bluetooth-connected smartphone, you can even enjoy playing along with a backing track or accompaniment. The instrument’s top-of-the-range transducer components have been developed by Japanese electronics manufacturer Onkyo. By using a vibrating wooden soundboard rather than cone speakers, the resulting sound is projected in all directions. This is huge advance compared with other hybrids, which tend to project sounds in a more limited way.

An impressive and versatile piano. Highly recommended. IP

KAWAI

www.international-piano.com

November 12-29, 2021 Hamamatsu, Japan Organized by Eligibility Pianists born on or after January 1, 1991 Application Available February 1 – March 31, 2021 JURY

OGAWA Noriko (Japan/Chairperson) DANG Thai Son (Vietnam) Alexander GAVRYLYUK (Australia) Paul HUGHES (UK) KIM Youngho (Korea) Ewa KUPIEC (Poland) Pedja MUZIJEVIC (USA) Ronan O’HORA (UK) Boris PETRUSHANSKY (Russia/Italy) SAKO Akiyoshi (Japan) Natalia TRULL (Russia)

For further Information Secretariat of the HIPIC

E-mail : info@hipic.jp TEL : (+81)53-451-1148 FAX : (+81)53-451-1123

www.hipic.jp

International Piano Guide to Instruments & Accessories 41