The Banff International String Quartet Competition has announced the names of the 10 competitors in its 11th triennial competition, which takes place Aug. 26 to Sept. 1.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
The competition, aimed at young quartets who are just gaining a professional foothold, has amassed an impressive reputation for picking ensembles with a bright future.
There are two quartets with Canadian members competing this summer: the Calidore and Linden String Quartets. The other eight groups competing are:
Anima Quartet (Russia/China)
Attacca Quartet (USA)
Dover Quartet (USA)
Gémeaux Quartett (Switzerland)
Navarra Quartet (UK/Ireland/the Netherlands)
Noga Quartet (France/Israel)
Quatuor Cavatine (France)
Schumann Quartett (Germany)
“The 10 young quartets share an absolutely exceptional level of artistry,” says competition director Barry Shiffman in the press release. “BISQC promises to be a week of music making and celebration that is unique in the world.”
The competition’s compulsory Canadian work has been written by Vivian Fung, in a co-commission that includes the Banff Centre and the CBC.
According to the release, there is a total exceeding $150,000 in prizes.
The rich first prize includes $25,000, a quartet of bows made by Canadian bow-maker François Malo, North American and European concert tours, and a creative residency at The Banff Centre which includes the production of a professional recording by the Centre’s celebrated Audio Department. This also includes the Esterházy Foundation Prize, a special performance in Haydn Hall at the Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria.
The jury is made up of seven of the world’s top musicians, mentors, and teachers. They include violist Miguel de Silva of the Ysaÿe Quartet; cellist András Fejér, founder of the Takács Quartet; violinist Kikuei Ikeda of the Toyko String Quartet and faculty member at the Yale School of Music; violist Garth Knox, former member of the Arditti String Quartet; violinist Nicholas Kitchen, founder of the Borromeo String Quartet; cellist Richard Lester of the London Haydn Quartet; and violinist Scott St. John of the St. Lawrence String Quartet.
The list of past competition winners is a who’s who of the chamber music world, including the St. Lawrence, Miró, Daedalus, Jupiter, TinAlley, and Cecilia String Quartets.
For all the details and profiles of each competitor, click here.
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
