Official Statement from the Piano Star International Competition on Group C Final Round Rankings
November 21, 2023:
The Piano Star International Competition is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of fairness and excellence in showcasing the talents of pianists from around the world. We need to address an issue that occurred during the Final Round ranking calculations of Group C.
We discovered an error in the percentile rankings used to determine our grand finalists. This was not due to manual processing by our staff, but rather an unforeseen issue with Google Sheets, our chosen software for data calculations. The error arose from the way Google Sheets calculates percentile ranks in the case of tied scores, specifically for the score of 9.43, which was achieved by multiple finalists. This led to varying percentile ranks for this score and the unintentional exclusion of two participants from the list of grand finalists.
Upon identifying this error, we took immediate action. The finalist with the score of 9.43 has been rightfully reinstated among the grand finalists, as well as another finalist who became eligible for the grand final after this correction. We deeply apologize for the confusion and concern this has caused to the contestants and their supporters.
To ensure this does not happen again, we are not only reviewing and refining our current data management processes but also exploring alternative, more reliable methods for future competitions. Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our results is paramount.
We sincerely appreciate the understanding and continued support of our contestants, their families, and our audience. As we move forward with the competition, we are excited to celebrate the exceptional talent of all our grand finalists, and we commit to making this event a fair and memorable experience for everyone involved.