UK gets new international violin competition
(November 2003)
Royal Northern College of Music announces international violin contest
The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has launched a new international violin competition.
The first RNCM Manchester International Violin Competition will be held from 11 to 23 April 2005 and will give violinists from all over the world the opportunity to perform before a panel of internationally respected judges, including representatives from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the English Northern Philharmonia.
The competition aims to provide a career launch-pad for an outstanding violinist. Finalists will have the chance to play with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the ultimate prize will consist of a substantial cash sum, national engagements and the loan of a violin from London firm Beare & Sons.
All competitors will also take part in masterclasses with members of the jury, RNCM tutors and visiting artists such as Tasmin Little, Yair Kless and Yossi Zivoni.
Launched with support from the Stone-Mallabar Foundation, the event looks set to consolidate the college’s reputation for hosting and running major festivals and international events.
Malcolm Layfield, head of strings at the RNCM, is keen to stress the importance of not running the competition for the sole benefit of the winners: ‘This will be a stimulating way for young violinists to meet and exchange ideas. We want to be able to share good performance practice as well as embrace the competitive aspect of playing.’
While Layfield acknowledges there are a great number of international violin competitions, he feels there is a need for one in Britain: ‘Since the demise of the Carl Flesch competition, there has been a gap in the UK’s contribution. We have structured it so it complements the Menuhin Competition and when we do overlap in 2008 we will alter our age range accordingly.’
WEB LINKS
www.rncm.ac.uk Royal Northern College of Music
www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/philharmonic BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
