Music Competition Archives

Browsing: Music Competition

(de g. à d.) Le directeur général Alexander Neef, membre du conseil d'administration du FAO Judith Gelber deuxieme prix - Joel Allison, troisième prix - Simona Genga, lauréate - Anna-Sophie Neher, Russell Braun, Christina Petrowska Quilico, et Tracy Dahl. Photo: Chris Hutcheson

Anna-Sophie Neher Wins 2019 Christina and Louis Quilico Awards Vocal Competition

By Newswire on 12 February 2019 Music Competition, Newswire, Vocal

Toronto, February 12, 2019 – On Monday, February 11th, the rising stars of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals, competed in the fifth biennial Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, with Anna-Sophie Neher claiming the first prize of $8,000. Joel Allison won the second prize of $4,000, and Simona Genga won the third prize of $3,000. The event took place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, as a part of the COC’s Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. The competition was adjudicated by a panel composed of Alexander Neef, General Director of the Canadian Opera…

Finalists for the 34th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal revealed

By Newswire on 10 January 2019 Arts Industry, Music Competition

Montréal, January 9, 2019 – The Conseil des arts de Montréal is pleased to reveal the finalists for its 34th Grand Prix, which will be awarded on March 21, 2019. The finalists made exceptional contributions to the vitality of Montréal’s arts community in 2018. The finalists are: Black Theatre Workshop, for its efforts to promote inclusivity among various Black communities in Montréal, Québec, and Canada and for its outspoken acceptance of sexual, linguistic, and cultural identities. The first French-language reading of Angélique, a work involving artists of diverse origins and echoing the problems of systemic racism, is representative of this…

Soprano Hyunah Yu in the middle, flanked by players from Piffaro and Prism, at the premiere of “The Anchoress” at the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia); photo by Pete Checchia/Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

“The Anchoress” – Songs of a Soul in Solitude

By Charles Geyer on 4 November 2018 Art Song, Baroque and Early, Chamber Music, Classical, Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Experimental Jazz, Interviews, La Scena Online, Music Competition, Musical Theatre, Opera, Theatre, Vocal, World Music

REVIEW: of The Anchoress, a world premiere of a new musical monodrama/song cycle composed by David Serkin Ludwig with text by Katie Ford, performed by soprano Hyunah Yu, accompanied by saxophone quartet PRISM and ancient-instrument ensemble Piffaro; on Wednesday, October 17, at the Perelman Theatre of Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, and on Thursday, October 18, at New York City’s DiMenna Center for Classical Music (the latter performance reviewed here); and INTERVIEWS: with composer David Ludwig and poet Katie Ford. The impulse to retreat from the world in search of spiritual insight or purity has manifested throughout human history. Twenty-one centuries of Christianity…

0022 – (l-r) Ensemble Studio Competition Second Prize winner Vartan Gabrielian, Third Prize winner Jamie Groote, Audience Choice Award and CBC Music Young Artist Development Prize winner Andrea Lett, and First Prize and CBC Music Young Artist Development Prize winner Matthew Cairns, Centre Stage 2018. Photo: Michael Cooper

Matthew Cairns Wins First Prize at COC’s 2018 Ensemble Studio Competition

By Newswire on 2 November 2018 Music Competition, Newswire, Opera

Toronto – Matthew Cairns of St. Catharines, ON took home First Prize at the Canadian Opera Company’s annual Ensemble Studio Competitionon November 1, 2018 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The competition is the feature event of the COC gala fundraiser Centre Stage, an annual celebration of Canada’s best young opera artists. Cairns was selected from eight finalists to receive the $5,000 award, supported by the Chair of the COC’s Board of Directors, as well as a performance opportunity at Ontario’s Elora Festival. Vartan Gabrielian of Toronto won the Second Prize of $3,000, and Jamie Groote of Toronto was awarded the Third Prize of $1,500. Andrea Lett of Prince Albert, SK took home the Audience Choice Award, worth $1,500. In…

Matthew Aucoin (photo: Steven Laxton)

Matthew Aucoin Wins 2018 MacArthur Fellowship

By Newswire on 5 October 2018 Music Competition, Newswire, Vocal

It was announced today that Matthew Aucoin – “one of the most sought-after young voices in classical music” (Wall Street Journal) – has been named a 2018 MacArthur Fellow. Selected for his extraordinary originality and dedication in his creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction, the composer, conductor, writer, and pianist is one of 25 recipients of this year’s “genius grant.” On learning of the award, Aucoin commented: “When I look at past MacArthur fellows, I’m struck not just by their brilliance but, in so many cases, by their humaneness and wisdom. Claudia Rankine, Peter Sellars, Claire Chase –…

Photo : Brent Calis

Magali Simard-Galdès – 2018 Récital-concours of Festival Classica Winner

By Benjamin Goron on 3 October 2018 Art Song, Music Competition, Vocal

Second prize-winner in 2017 of the Recital Competition of French Art Song at the Classica Festival, soprano Magali Simard-Galdès this year won first prize for her performance of the art songs of Cécile Chaminade, accompanied by Michel-Alexandre Broekaert, who won the pianist’s prize. The Rimouski-born singer and champion of Chaminade is very proud of this feat, winning over the jury in the face of works by Debussy, Ravel, Fauré and Poulenc. Chaminade (1857-1944) was a concert pianist and prolific composer much loved in her time. Simard-Galdès likes her simple and limpid poetry, which lets the musical phrases speak for themselves.…

Élisabeth Pion – 2018 Shean Piano Competition Winner

By Benjamin Goron on 3 October 2018 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Last May, 22-year-old pianist Élisabeth Pion from Otterburn Park, Quebec, won the Shean Piano Competition in Edmonton for her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto. With this feather in her cap, she is about to embark on a Master’s at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London with Ronan O’Hora. Shortly before her departure for the U.K., Pion spoke about her world of freedom, multidisciplinarity and solitude – ingredients that seem to match her pensive look and the nonchalance of a young Martha Argerich. Talk of music quickly veers off into the autobiographical Carnets by Camus, which she is…

Benjamin Seah – 2018 Virtuose Winner

By Benjamin Goron on 3 October 2018 Classical Music, Music Competition, Violin

As a child, Benjamin Seah cut out pictures of violins and bows and played a paper violin while listening to Vivaldi. Ten years later, he made music his life and swapped the paper instrument for a real one made in 1913 by French luthier Gustave Villaume, which possessed a full and rich sonority. At just 14, he was astonishing audiences by his musicality and love for the violin. Recently he earned the title “Virtuose” in the Radio-Canada’s television show hosted by Grégory Charles. Seah is now studying at the Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie in partnership with the Vincent-d’Indy school of music.…

Photo : Andrea Felvegi

Nicolas Namoradze – 2018 Honens Competition Winner

By Sébastien Daigle on 3 October 2018 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

At age 26, Nicolas Namoradze has had a remarkable career. He’s given recitals around the world and played with distinguished orchestras in Europe and the United States. Festivals have asked him to write works which have been played by eminent musicians. Most recently, he won first prize in the 2018 Honens Piano Competition in Calgary. Winning this competition was the stuff of dreams for Namoradze. And he thinks it came down to luck: “My teacher, Emanuel Ax, believes that competitions are like lotteries: you just have to be lucky. I certainly feel extremely lucky and I am enormously grateful.” The…

Andrea Núñez – 2017 Talent and Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Winner

By Wah Keung Chan on 3 October 2018 Music Competition, Opera, Vocal

Last November was hectic for Markham, ON native Andrea Núñez. The 28-year-old soprano went from competing in the Opera de Montréal’s inaugural young artist competition, Talent 2017, to jumping the very next day into the weeklong Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques. “I was running on coffee,” said Núñez, whose father is Peruvian and mother Chinese. On the stage of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Talent 2017, Núñez sang a polished “Caro Nome” from Verdi’s Rigoletto. Although I found her interpretation a bit straight, her legato and floating high notes were astounding and set her apart from the rest of the field. So it’s surprising…