Music Competition - my/maSCENA

Élisabeth-St-Gelais

Elisabeth St-Gelais (soprano) – Prix d’Europe Winner

By Kristen Whittle on 6 October 2023 Music Competition, Vocal

Elisabeth St-Gelais stands out as an unstoppable young professional. Along with winning the prestigious Prix d’Europe competition, she was named a Révélation Classique by Radio-Canada. From a young age, St-Gelais remembers looking forward to learning about the annual recipients of this title, and dreaming about one day seeing herself in the announcement. These two major accomplishments have left St-Gelais feeling ready to continue her work as a freelance soloist in what has quickly become a completely booked upcoming year. This year marked her second time participating in the Prix d’Europe (she advanced to the semifinal round in 2022). Having previous…

2024 Competition Guide

By La Scena Musicale Team on 6 October 2023 Guides, Music Competition

INTERNATIONAL COMPOSITION COMPETITION PIANO TRIO 2024 Mailing: University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Austria Tel: +43 316 389 1900, +43 664 88761832 [email protected] schubert.kug.ac.at/compositioncompetition Deadline: March 27, 2024 Age Limit: 38 years (born after March 27, 1986) Instruments: Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello (Piano Trio) On the occasion of the 12th International Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music” 2025, contemporary compositions for Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello (Piano Trio) are sought. The primary aim of this competition is to encourage the creation of new works for this chamber music category. Conditions of participation: A composition for Trio…

Seokyoung Hong

Seokyoung Hong (piano) – Cliburn Junior Competition Winner

By Kristen Whittle on 6 October 2023 Music Competition, Piano

Korean pianist Seokyoung Hong is a natural performer. His success at the Cliburn Junior Competition is a testament to this, as is his clear love for sharing music from the stage. According to Hong, the spontaneity of performance is what he enjoys most. “Sometimes I don’t even know what I will play on the stage,” he said, adding: “Of course concerts are prepared and practised, but I make choices while playing.” Hong was faced with numerous performance opportunities at the Cliburn competition, which consisted of four rounds. He played a different program in each. Highlights included Liszt’s Concert Étude No.…

Carole-Anne Roussel (soprano) Queen Elisabeth Competition Laureate

By Kristen Whittle on 6 October 2023 Music Competition, Opera

Soprano Carole-Anne Roussel is forging a path that diverges from the mainstream model. She notes that perhaps it was this kind of “bold move,” here in the context of repertoire choices, that made her stand out in the Queen Elisabeth Competition. One of two Canadian laureates, Roussel says she was “proud of the choice to go against the grain” and sing a less popular soprano repertoire, including works by Menotti, Beach, Poulenc, and an aria from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Outside of her unique repertoire selections, Roussel aspires to be a relevant, useful musician. She believes strongly in the power…

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (piano) – Paloma O’Shea Santander Competition Winner

By Kristen Whittle on 6 October 2023 Music Competition, Piano

Pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko has made monumental strides in his musical career this past year. Alongside winning the Paloma O’Shea Santander Competition, he recently completed his Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of British Columbia, studying with Corey Hamm. Izik-Dzurko also spent the year performing in renowned concert halls the world over (Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, to name a few). Playing for international audiences is one of Izik-Dzurko’s professional goals, which he is well on his way to achieving. During his time in Spain, he premièred a…

Dmytro Udovychenko (violin) – CMIM

By Kristen Whittle on 6 October 2023 Music Competition, Strings

This year, Ukrainian-born Dmytro Udovychenko took home first place at the Concours musical international de Montreal (CMIM) following a thrilling three rounds of the competition. The young violinists competed against 24 internationally recognized emerging artists for a jury including Koichiro Harada (Japan), Yura Lee (Korea/USA), Malcolm Lowe (Canada), Mihaela Martin (Romania), Lucie Robert (Canada), Dmitry Sitkovetsky (United Kingdom/USA), and Krishna Thiagarajan (Germany/USA). First, the young violinist demonstrated his skills in the performance of works by Bach, Schumann and Ysaÿe. In the semifinals, he performed works by Bartók, Ravel, Wieniawski, and Canadian composer Luna Pearl Woolf. Udovychenko wowed audiences and jurors…

Newswire | 2025 Cliburn Competition Announced

By Newswire on 20 September 2023 Music Competition, Newswire

FORT WORTH, Texas, September 20, 2023 — The Cliburn announces the major elements of the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, taking place May 21–June 7, 2025, at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Applications open October 16, 2023, and will be due October 16, 2024. The 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition builds on the historic success of the 2022 edition, which was an outstanding embodiment of the Cliburn’s core tenets: enduring commitment to artistic excellence, the discovery of new artists, and the advancement of classical piano music throughout the world.…

Elora Singers conductors Lydia Adams was awarded the Order of Canada

Industry News

By Eva Stone-Barney on 1 September 2023 Arts Industry, Classical Music, Music Competition, Obituaries

Obituaries Pianist and founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, Menahem Pressler, died on May 6, at the age of 99. Alongside his performing career, he maintained a career as a professor of music at the Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Austrian pianist Ingrid Haebler died on May 14, 2023, at the age of 96. She was especially known for her interpretation of works by Mozart and Schubert. Montreal-based choral conductor Mary Jane Puiu died on May 16, at the age of 73. In honour of her life, a reprint of her 2010 interview is included in this issue.…

Newswire | Honens Launches Keys for Newcomers Music Education Program

By Newswire on 26 August 2023 Music Competition, Newswire

Calgary, AB, August 25, 2023 — In association with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), Honens proudly launches Keys for Newcomers, a program providing Calgary newcomers with accessible music education for students and opportunities for piano teachers. Lessons begin in September. Honens has a long history of bringing its world class Laureates and music appreciation to schools and the community with programs such as Honens in the Classroom, Honens High, Junior Jurors, Storytellers, masterclasses, and other community concerts. Now seeking to meet the growing need for approachable music education for refugees and newcomers to Calgary, Honens’ Keys for Newcomers pilot…

Leland Ko on stage during the cello auditions. (Photo by Donna Santos)

Newswire | 2023 Musical Instrument Bank Cohort Revealed

By Newswire on 16 August 2023 Music Competition, Toronto

Toronto, August 16, 2023 – Auditions for the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank took place in Toronto from July 30 to August 5. The auditions give classical music performers from Canada the opportunity to borrow one of the Musical Instrument Bank’s precious instruments for three years. At this year’s competition, 23 violins and cellos made between the late 17th century and the early 20th century by famous luthiers like Stradivari, Gagliano and Pressenda were available. Before obtaining an instrument, the musicians took part in a rigorous assessment process. The musicians who wished to borrow an instrument first submitted an…

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