Festival participants typically get a tremendous boost to their careers, affirming the discerning choices of the Festival’s selection committee. The last two Gilmore Award recipients, Ingrid Fliter and Piotr Anderszwski were identified by the Festival's artistic committee prior to receiving this prestigious award - the highest recognition bestowed upon any pianist..

In an effort to continue furthering the careers of its outstanding artists, the Festival’s presenting organization, Patrons of Exceptional Artists, has embarked on several recording projects that will leave a lasting legacy for piano lovers and inspire new generations. Click here to view all of the Festival CDs and DVDs currently available on the VAI label.

Each of the Festival's CDs and DVDs has received excellent reviews - from the earliest recordings to the most recent.  The Italian virtuosi Francesco Libetta and Pietro De Maria have each gained tremendous exposure through the recordings and Libetta, who was first discovered by filmmaker Bruno Monsaingeon at the Festival, was featured in the documentary  ”The Pianist of the Impossible” a European Gold Medal award winning film.

The release of American pianist Adam Neiman’s live performance on a multi-pianist compilation, was singled out by Classics.com as “…fluent, technically rock-solid, and musically traversal of the sprawling Rachmaninoff First Sonata crowns Disc 1...the performance really moves.” 

In 2008 the Festival began what it hopes will be a series single-composer recordings by pianists who are considered masters of interpretation.  Through the release of these recordings, the Miami International Piano Festival hopes to create the definitive library that will serve as the standard reference for generations to come.  The recording by Konstantin Lifschitz of Bach’s entire Well-Tempered Clavier has receiving outstanding international critical acclaim. A recent review in  the Philadelphia Inquirer says, “ The Lifschitz disc isn't just a prize, it's a bargain: the entire Well-Tempered Clavier is on a single DVD - an extremely watchable one, thanks partly to interesting camera work in an inviting stage setting (at the Miami International Piano Festival) with atmospheric lighting and large potted plants. That wouldn't count for much were Lifschitz not so completely into his Bach zone. He is magnetic, his middle-weight sonority and near-infallible technique a clear prism for his personal and often profound relationship with this music. Though preludes are more often revelatory than the fugues, there's a consistency to his invention and polish that defies the live-concert circumstances. Warning: He mixes the two books of the Well-Tempered Clavier, juxtaposing how Bach explored a given key signature at different points in his life.

On March 15 of 2009 Kemal Gekic (Croatia) presented and recorded his own Musical Marathon as part of the Master Series. That afternoon he performed Chopin’s 27 Etudes and 4 Ballades and in the evening, returned for a concert that featured all 12 Liszt Transcendental Etudes. His 1997 JVC recording of the Transcendental Etudes continues to garner critical acclaim, and for very good reasons: not only does Gekic posses a daunting technique, but more important he imbues every piece he plays with intelligence, complete poetic vision and artistic imagination, creating some of the most thrilling interpretations of classical repertoire heard in the very long time.

In 2010 the Music Marathon tradition continued as we devoted an entire day to a single artist in our Master Series. Ilya Itin to gave 2 performances on March 7 – an afternoon devoted to Prokofiev and an evening to Rachmaninoff's 24 Preludes!

Next up on the list of super human artists to present (2) single composer recitals in one day is Misha Dacic. On March 6 of 2011, Mr. Dacic will perform a LISZT MARATHON - with works from the "Weimar Years" in the afternoon and later works by Liszt that same evening.

Up until the inception of the “Prodigies & Masters of Tomorrow”“Prodigies” program, the world had not seen a musical event that focuses on the development of emerging prodigies. Through the release of live performances and projects, viewers are offered a rare opportunity to not just hear great concerts, but marvel at the high level of musical understanding that these prodigies demonstrate. Read about the "Prodigies and Masters of Tomorrow" program to learn about the latest news and developments.