A glittering start to the year: Germany's oldest classical music competition takes place again in January
Press release from 12/18/2014
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition 2015 organised by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the Rectors' Conference of German Music Universities and the Berlin University of the Arts
The Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition 2015 will be held in the fields of viola, trumpet, clarinet and vocal ensemble. From 14 to 16 January 2015, the best musical talents from German music academies will compete in public auditions. The prizewinners will then present themselves in three concerts, supported by the symphony orchestra of the Orchesterzentrum NRW.
The traditional competition is organised by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Rectors' Conference of German Music Universities, with the competitions and concerts taking place at the Berlin University of the Arts. This year's competition is once again under the artistic direction of Dr Dieter Rexroth and the patronage of Kurt Masur. The competition entries will be judged by internationally renowned musicians under the chairmanship of Prof Barbara Westphal (viola), Prof Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet), Prof Reiner Wehle (clarinet) and Prof Matthias Beckert (vocal ensemble).
All prizewinners will be announced on 16 January 2015 in a concert by the symphony orchestra of the Orchesterzentrum NRW, which will accompany the prizewinners in the final concert. The prizewinners in the vocal ensemble category will perform in a concert on 17 January 2015.
The final concert will take place on 18 January 2015 under the direction of Garry Walker together with the prizewinners in the viola, trumpet and clarinet categories. At the same time, the compositions commissioned for this competition by David Robert Coleman for viola, Birke J. Bertelsmeier for trumpet and Márton Illés for clarinet will be premiered. It will be broadcast via live video stream. In addition to the concert, viewers of the "digital concert" can experience the protagonists of the competition in conversation in the supporting programme of the livestream.
Information about the competition
The Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition is the result of two important competitions: the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Competition of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the oldest German classical music competition, and the University Competition of German Music Universities. The competition was given a new artistic profile in 2013 when they were merged.
Prize money totalling 60,000 euros can be awarded in annually changing competition subjects. The concept also includes long-term support for the prizewinners with scholarships, follow-up performances and CD productions.
In addition to the organisers' prizes, the "Prize of the Federal President", which has existed in the form of a scholarship since 1989, will also be awarded as part of the competition. The "Friends of Young Musicians Germany" award a sponsorship prize. In addition, they organise follow-up concerts by the prizewinners in each of their eight member associations (Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf/Meerbusch, Frankfurt am Main, Kassel, Cologne/Bonn, Mainz/Wiesbaden and Munich). Follow-up concerts are also planned at renowned German festivals such as Young Euro Classic or the Kasseler Musiktage.
The first prize winners will also receive follow-up funding in the form of a CD production, which will be released on the "betont" label of the Berlin University of the Arts. The recordings will be made by the sound engineering department at the UdK Berlin. These productions are supported by the "Freunde Junger Musiker Berlin e. V.".
Information on all participants and all jury members of this year's competition is now available on the website of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition.
Further information and press tickets from:
Claudia Assmann
Tel. 030 3185 2456
presse(at)fmb-hochschulwettbewerb(dot)de
The dates at a glance:
14 to 16 January 2015, from 10.00 a.m.
Public auditions
Viola auditions: Kammersaal der UdK Berlin
Trumpet auditions: Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin
Clarinet auditions: Kleiner Vortragssaal der UdK Berlin
Admission free
14 and 16 January 2015, from 10.30 a.m.
Vocal ensemble public auditions
Hall 103 of the UdK Berlin
Admission free
16 January 2015, 8 p.m.
Festive orchestral concert with announcement of the prizewinners
The symphony orchestra of the Orchesterzentrum|NRW will perform under the direction of Garry Walker.
Programme:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major, op.21
HK Gruber: Manhattan Broadcasts
Zoltán Kodály: Dances from Galánta.
Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin, Bundesallee 1-12
Admission: 6,- Euro, reduced 4,- Euro
17 January 2015, 5.00 pm
Prizewinners' Concert Vocal Ensemble
Chamber concert of all prizewinners of the vocal ensemble category as well as the second and, if applicable, third prizewinners. Third prizewinners in viola, trumpet and clarinet
Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin, Bundesallee 1-12
Admission: 6 euros, reduced 4 euros
18 January 2015, 19.00 hrs
Prizewinners' concert viola, trumpet and clarinet
With the Symphony Orchestra of the Orchesterzentrum | NRW, conducted by Garry Walker.
Programme:
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: War March of the Priests from "Athalia", op. 74
György Ligeti: Concert Românesc
Paul Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher, Concerto after old folk songs for viola and small orchestra
Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E flat major, Hob. VIIe:1
Carl Maria von Weber: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra No. 1 in F minor, op. 73 J 114
David Robert Coleman: "Zwiegespräch II" (Viola)
Birke J. Bertelsmeier: "unstet" and "zu-neigend" (trumpet)
Márton Illés "Három akvarell klarinétra (Three Watercolours for Clarinet)".
Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin, Hardenbergstraße/corner of Fasanenstraße
Admission: 9 euros, concessions 5 euros
Ticket telephone: (030) 31 85 23 74
Tickets are available from 6 January 2015
at the box office of the UdK concert hall,
Opening hours: Tuesdays-Fridays from 3-6 p.m.
or at: www.reservix.de.
With the kind support of:
Lotto Stiftung Berlin
Freunde Junger Musiker Berlin
Freunde Junger Musiker Deutschland
emphasises
Orchesterzentrum | NRW
Elsa Wera Arnold Stiftung
Breitkopf
Young Euro Classic
Kasseler Musiktage
Hotel am Steinplatz
Kulturradio vom RBB
Deutschlandradio Kultur
Reservix