The Vancouver International Music Competition is once again welcoming video submissions from young musicians from around the world. But this year, there’s a significant difference. In addition to piano, strings, and voice entries, there is a new category for woodwinds musicians.
Lynn Liu, president of the Canadian International Arts & Music Society, told Pancouver that the organization added woodwinds after hearing feedback from the local community, music teachers, and society committee members.
“There are lots of students and young musicians in this woodwinds category,” Liu said over coffee in Yaletown. “So, we wanted to give this opportunity to this group so they can also draw on this platform.”
Competitors are divided into four ranges for the competition: Junior Talent (eight years of age and younger), Young Talent (ages 9 to 12), Young Artists (ages 13 to 17), and Artists (18 to 35). For the preliminary round, contestants must submit applications and video submissions by 11:59 p.m. on June 15. Each video has to include one piece of baroque or classical music. Contestants can choose whatever they like for the second piece.
An international jury will judge these video submissions. Jurors include Royal Conservatory of Music president Alexander Brose, Eastman School of Music director of opera Timothy Long, University of Washington piano professor and pianist Robin McCabe, Canadian classical pianist Ian Parker, UBC School of Music associate professor of piano and piano pedagogy Mark Anderson, and flautist Brenda Fedoruk.
Competition includes gala concert
Those who make it to the final round will compete in-person on October 9 and 10 in Pyatt Hall at Vancouver’s VSO School of Music. That will be followed by a gala concert and awards ceremony at 2 p.m. on October 11.
For the first time in the competition’s history, the gala will be held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.
“It’s a great opportunity for the winners from worldwide to have this experience in this great venue,” Liu pointed out.
The society presents the juried competition every three years. In each of the two off years, it organizes the Canadian International Music Festival, which includes a series of concerts and masterclasses presented by a diverse group of virtuosos.
Liu, a piano teacher, launched the Vancouver International Music Competition in 2017. She said that she did it because she feels that Vancouver is such an internationally recognized and beautiful city. Yet it did not have an international music event for young people.
“I think it’s a meaningful and significant thing to do for Vancouver and also for these younger generations,” Liu declared.
For more information on the Vancouver International Music Competition, visit the website.
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