York Early Music Festival International Young Artists' Competition
At the National Centre for Early Music, York
Thursday 16, Friday 17 & Saturday 18 July 2009
York Early Music Festival invites applications from young artists to take part in the York Early Music Festival International Young Artists Competition. The Competition (which was previously held in association with the Early Music Network) will take place at the National Centre for Early Music from 16 to 18 July 2009, as part of the 2009 Festival. The Competition is supported by the National Centre for Early Music, BBC Radio 3 and Arts Council England, Yorkshire.
Prizes
The winners will receive a cheque for £1,000; a studio recording with BBC Radio 3; a concert as part of the 2010 York Early Music Festival and opportunities to work with the National Centre for Early Music on a UK wide tour and a professionally produced CD working in association with Linn Records. A publicity portfolio of the selected ensembles will be assembled and distributed worldwide to organisers of early music concerts. There is a further cash prize presented by the Friends of York Early Music Festival.
Judging
The Final of the Competition will be judged by an international panel of performers and promoters. This panel (as well as the audience) regularly includes representatives of the broadcasting, recording, festival and music promotion worlds, who see this as a prime opportunity to identify and select new and promising young talent. The Competition can thus be a key stage on the way to national and international recognition for young performers.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Size of ensemble
Ensembles (instrumental and/or vocal, in any combination) must have a minimum of three persons - soloists are not eligible. There are no restrictions on the maximum number in the ensemble, but competitors should be aware that future professional viability may be limited for larger groups. Applications are welcomed from ensembles of all nationalities.
Age of entrants
Instrumentalists must be aged between 17 and 30 (born after 18 July 1979); singers must be aged between 17 and 35 (born after 18 July 1974).
Style of repertory
Competitors must perform repertory from the period ranging from the middle ages to the nineteenth century, using appropriate historically informed playing techniques, instruments and stylistic conventions.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications must include:
· a completed application form
·a CD on which should be given the date and place of recording and contents: the recording must be of the people who will take part in the Competition and should be of 15 - 20 minutes duration
·a brief biography of the group (ie not individuals)
·a letter of recommendation from a prominent personality in musical life (e.g. a teacher or professional musician)
·two recent photographs of the ensemble, or of individual members of the ensemble if a group shot is not available.
The deadline for applications is Friday 5 December 2008. Applications should be sent to:
The Music Administrator
National Centre for Early Music
St Margaret’s Church
Walmgate, York YO1 9TL
+44 (0)1904 632220
e mail:
ailsa.reid@ncem.co.uk
An application form is available to download at the bottom of this page.
Please note that it is expected that all individuals will be in York from the evening of Wednesday 15 July until after 5pm on Saturday 18 July 2009. It should be noted that those applying for the competition, should be those who play for it!
SELECTION PROCESS
Initial selection process
Competitors will be shortlisted on the basis of their CD - no-one will be expected to come to York at this stage. Competitors who are successfully shortlisted will be informed of their selection as Finalists by Friday 19 December 2008.
Performances in York
Finalists will be invited to perform twice in York as part of York Early Music Festival (16-18 July 2009):
·Preliminary recitals (Thursday and Friday, 16 and 17 July). Initially, Finalists will present an informal 20-minute recital in front of an audience, but not in front of the judging panel. These recitals will be introduced to the audience by singer Evelyn Tubb who will then invite competitors and the audience to reflect upon aspects of the performance.
·Final (Saturday 18 July). The Final of the Competition will take place throughout the day on Saturday 18 July 2009. Each Finalist ensemble will present a 20-minute programme (this is playing time, and does not include tuning or preparation) in front of the panel of judges and a public audience. The programme for the Final must be different from that presented in the informal recital. The results of the Final will be announced at the end of the day.
The preliminary concerts, and the Final, take place at the National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL. Representatives of international early music festivals, networks and radio stations are invited to attend the Competition on Saturday 18 July 2009 in York. All performances are open to the public.
Programme details
Finalists must provide outline programme details by Friday 23 January 2009: these should include titles and composers of all pieces to be performed in York. Full programme details must be supplied by Friday 27 March 2009. The full programme details must include titles of all pieces (with movement titles), full names and dates of the composers, general programme notes about the music (approximately 250 words for each recital), plus translations of texts if appropriate.
Judging criteria
Competitors will be assessed on the following:
·range of repertory - and a sustainable interesting repertory for future performances
·musicianship
·interpretation
·technical ability
·presentation - stage presence, rapport with audience, professionalism
·quality of programme notes
·overall contribution to the early music scene
·eventual professional viability
·professionalism of dealings with the Festival office.
OTHER INFORMATION
Keyboard instruments
Andrew Wooderson will provide the following harpsichords for use by the competitors:
· Flemish two manual harpsichord after Ioannes Ruckers A415/440
Compass GG-e3 2x8' 1x4'
· Italian single manual after Grimaldi A415/440 Compass GG-e3 2x8'.
The NCEM will provide a chamber organ, tuned at A=415 or A=440.
Competitors are reminded that the amount of space and retuning time will be limited.
Competitors are advised to select only one keyboard instrument for their Final programme.
Fees
A fee of £50 per musician will be charged to enter this competition. Monies should be paid direct to the NCEM’s bank account. Competitors will be provided with free accommodation in York for the duration of the competition and with standard class UK travel costs.
Recording and distribution
The organisers reserve the right to record or arrange for the recording of any concert in the Competition, including the Final, and organise broadcasts and/or distribution without recompense to the competitors.
BBC Radio 3 plan to work with the winning ensemble to offer them a professionally produced studio recording.
NCEM plan to work with Linn Records to offer the winning ensemble a professionally produced CD which will be distributed and marketed by Linn with support from the NCEM. It should be noted that the NCEM will pay for travel, accommodation and instrument hire for this recording, but will not be paying a fee to the artists. Linn Records will give the artists a royalty of 8% of sales value on all sales - after the first 2,000 copies have been sold. In addition, Linn will give the artists 25 copies of the CD free of charge.
Other regulations
·There is no appeal against the decisions of the jury.
·Participants will compete in the order as decided by lot.
·Each ensemble receives a programme book and a free ticket to one of the evening concerts for each member.
·All participants should be fully acquainted with the regulations and schedules.
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RELATED PDF DOWNLOADS
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International Young Artists’ Competition Application Form
Adobe Acrobat PDF [12.73
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