"We have the greatest respect for Alexis Gregory who has made with the Vendome Prize an enormous contribution to the musical world. There are many competitions these days but the Vendome is right at the top of the list. The organization and the very fair and unbiased judging make this one of the most important piano competitions today. So many young pianists have already had their start with the Vendome. We wish it a great and successful continuation."
Richard Bonynge, CBE, AO and Joan Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE, Jury Members 2000

« The world's most prestigious competition »
Le Figaro, Paris, June 2000

"The Vendome Prize won by our prizewinners Alberto Nosè and Boris Giltburg, is an example to be followed. » Paloma O'Shea, Executive President, Santander International Piano Competition, August 2008

"Alexis Gregory, the director of the competition, has an extended network of friends and associates in Europe and as a result, is able to offer fantastic engagements in some of the beautiful halls of Europe. The opportunity to perform in some of these magnificent venues and spend time acquainting myself with different cities and cultures has been an experience I will always treasure." Stephen Beus, First Prize 2006

"Winning the Vendome Prize was very important for my career; besides the opportunity to record my first professional CD, I received several engagements in major venues, including a debut New York recital. I believe this is one of the major competitions today, and wholeheartedly recommend your participating in it." Boris Giltburg, First Prize 2003

"The young and highly prestigious Vendome Prize is quite special thanks to its broad vision, the inspirational ideas it follows and the extremely beautiful atmosphere of its auditions. I wish Alexis and his beloved "creature" all the success and attention it deserves." Giuseppe Albanese, First Prize 2003

"Having participated in, and won, many other competitions- including the Chopin Competition of Warsaw also in 2000- I have never found myself in a contest of such high level on so many counts; the participation of a highly qualified jury, the noble undertaking of the organizers to present young pianists to the public at large, the prestige of the prize itself part of whose task is financing concerts and recruiting professional managers.
The man who thought all this up, the creator of the Vendome Prize, is Alexis Gregory. Apparently destiny brought us together, enabled me to get to know him, appreciate and love him for his great humanity and generosity. He is a man whose passion for art crosses the borders of any state, annuls any frontier. I owe Alexis Gregory a great deal, he is an exquisite and very amiable person and not only the world of music needs others like him. Grazie, with my greatest esteem and affection. " Alberto Nosé, First Prize 2000

"I am particularly grateful for the warm friendship with Alexis Gregory, the founder of the Vendome Prize, and for his support and encouragement. Through Alexis, I came to play in New York and was able to return and play again in St. Petersburg, the city of my birth, after 14 years of being away - this was always a dream of mine. The Vendome Prize is unlike any other competition I have encountered. It is more of a festival than a competition and gives nearly everybody who plays there hope for the future." Yevgeny Sudbin, Second Prize 2000

"I have never won the top prize at Vendome, but having been a runner-up in this contest fulfilled my greatest dream - to continue my studies in New York, one of the most exciting and challenging places in the world. For this reason I am deeply grateful for the competition and for the driving force behind it - the restless and wonderful Alexis Gregory. He knows better than anybody else that, in the end, only music matters." Matei Varga, Vendome Virtuoso 2006 and 2003

"Among the many existing small and large competitions, only a few stand out as having the ability to bestow those advantages which can change and most positively affect the path a young pianist takes. The Vendome Prize is undoubtedly one of those and stands out in many ways that make it quite unique and particularly valuable, putting the emphasis on a young artist's vision of himself, his talent and potential. These include a jury consisting of performing artists of great stature in different fields of music, a matter of utmost importance. This is so elementary that it's a pity that it is not more often applied in other important competitions, since the perspective of great performing artists in diverse musical realms is a unique tool for judges.
I warmly recommend participating in this competition and hope that future winners will profit from the same wonderful opportunity which exposed me to great artists and people of great culture and musical understanding who still play an important part in my life, to broaden my horizons, and helped me pave the path of my professional career as a performing artist." Iddo Bar-Shai, Vendome Virtuosi 2000

"The Vendome Prize is one of the most exciting and advanced competitions in the world. At a time when there are so many international piano competitions which resemble sporting events the Vendome Prize takes a different approach, creating a unique event with an atmosphere more akin to a music festival. Unlike most other competitions it pursues the quest for artistic achievement with utmost determination. It endeavors to promote and celebrate art, encourage talent, and generously support young musicians at the beginning of their careers.
Participants in the Vendome Prize benefit from the unusual and creative consistency of the jury; not only of world class pianists, but also singers, conductors, record producers, and other prominent people in music business. The demanding repertoire of the competition helps the participants to display their abilities to these people who can help launch a career. This competition is not for those who aim to get yet more 'winner' titles, but for those who devote their life to music." Alexei Grynyuk