ESO.

ESO Young Soloist Competition 13 February 2011

Many thanks to all who supported the competition final and especially to the competitors, their accompanists and their friends and family.
Below is the transcript of what Graham Jones, the chairman of the judges, said at the end of the afternoon:

Ladies and gentlemen, a very warm welcome from all the judges. May I begin with a word of thanks to all the competitors for yet another outstanding afternoon of music. This is the 24th year of the competition. Details of all previous winners can be found on the ESO website, several of whom have a direct link to their own webpages. Thank you also to the accompanists who have worked so hard to make the performances so enjoyable.

A word or two about how the competition is organised. Entry is open to all instrumentalists who are under 24 on 31 December 2010. There is no lower age limit, but a very high standard needs to have been achieved.

In the first round a programme lasting 15 minutes is presented, from which five finalists are chosen. (It is important that competitors observe the time constraints throughout the competition.) This opening round is also open to the public, and anyone who would like to hear some of the enthralling performances is welcome to come along at any time during the weekend.

Entries for the competition this year fell slightly to 35. There were 11 pianists, 10 violinists, four cellists, seven woodwind players and three brass players. Eleven different nationalities were represented including Canada, Holland, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, France, USA and Germany. Competitors travelled many miles both from outside the UK and within the UK for the opening rounds. The judges were particularly impressed by the quality of the performances and found the selection of finalists a demanding task.

Competitors of all ages are eligible to go through to the final round but, in addition to the main prizes that are being presented this afternoon, there is a further prize, increased this year by anonymous donation, to £200, The Duke of Devonshire Award, which is given for the best performance by a competitor aged 17 and under. The winner of this award is normally asked to perform at the final after the tea break. However the winner this year, Joel Sandelson, so impressed the judges that he was selected to be one of the finalists.

The ESO remains grateful to the late 11th Duke of Devonshire for his generosity and vision in providing initial financial support for this competition, which has ensured its continuity over many years when several other competitions have ceased to exist.

The prizes have been slightly reorganised this year. Three years ago a new prize was added due to the generosity of Merton Cox, a great supporter of the ESO, in memory of his late parents. We are delighted that this award has now been increased to become the second prize with a value of £300. The prize will continue to be known as the May and Norman Cox Memorial Award.

Six years ago, the Orchestra received a generous donation from the estate of the late Colonel Philip Howes. It was decided that this gift should also be associated with the competition. This prize, which has a value of £250, will be the third award and continues to be known as the Colonel Howes Award. 

All the finalists in the competition will receive a cheque. The value of the prizes for the runners up is £100.

As usual, a word about what the judges are looking for. As you may be aware, the adjudication can be found on the ESO website. Each soloist has been marked on:

Accuracy – although, at this level, technical proficiency is assumed, performance from memory and overall security during concert performance may affect this mark.

Interpretation – relating to and understanding the styles of the period and the performer’s ability to have an affinity with the composer.

Communication – here we take into account that this is a concerto competition. The soloist must be able to work with the conductor and orchestra, project in a large concert hall, create a sense of rapport with the audience

We also take into account stage presence and presentation throughout.

A balanced programme is also important. A contrast of styles is desirable. It is good to report again that the choice of works performed in the first round was generally well selected, enabling the candidates to display their considerable ability.

Our congratulations go to all the finalists. To reach the final of a competition like this is a huge achievement. All of you could be winners.

And so to some comments on each of the performers.

Joo Yeon Sir – Violin

The Elgar was accomplished, passionate and committed and delivered with a golden sound. The Prokofiev was an excellent contrast, well characterised with a range of effects and colour and effervescent in the outer sections.

Manuel Vieillard – Piano

The Mozart was promisingly stylish, taken at a lively tempo and contained some deft passagework. There was a real affinity with the style of the Ravel, which had a sense of vitality and showed good sense of ensemble with an exciting build up to the ending.

Katie Taylor – Clarinet

There was a lovely mellifluous sound in the opening section of the Copland. The clarity of articulation complemented the excellent sound projection. In the Weber, the playing was technically assured throughout, particularly in the semiquaver passages.

Joel Sandelson – Cello

The playing had a real sense of authority and musicianship. There was a very warm sound with clear left-hand articulation. The Haydn was appropriate to the period. In the Elgar, there was a warm, sweet sound showing considerable maturity and musical perception.

Gamal Khamis – Piano

The Fauré was beautifully crafted, authoritative and played with a singing tone. A colourful and sensitive performance. The Beethoven was dramatic with an excellent sense of ensemble. The cadenza was well judged and paced without losing a sense of style.

Before announcing the results of the 24th ESO annual Young Soloist Competition, I would like to invite the President of the ESO, Paul Lucas, and Merton Cox to the stage to present the prizes.

Ladies and gentlemen, unusually, the judges have been unanimous in there decisions.

The runners-up are Katie Taylor and Manuel Vieillard. Please come forward to receive your cheques. 

The winner of the Colonel Howes Award with a value of £250 and the Duke of Devonshire Prize of £200 is Joel Sandelson.

The May and Norman Cox Memorial Award with a value of £300 is Gamal Khamis. The panel so enjoyed your performances that we would like to offer you a concerto performance with the Orchestra.

Ladies and gentlemen the winner of the 2011 ESO annual Young Soloist Competition, gaining a prize of £500, is Joo Yeon Sir.

My thanks to my colleagues on the adjudicating panel for their wisdom and perception and, as always, their good humour, in the long hours of the first round.

On behalf of the Orchestra, I would like to say a big word of thanks to Brian and Lisa Knights for all their hard work in organising this event, and to John Thornley for his support behind the scenes and for being the compère for this afternoon’s final.

Finally, my thanks to you, the audience, for your support this afternoon. We look forward to seeing you again in January and February 2012 and at our choral concert on 1st May in St Saviour’s Church here in Eastbourne when the Eastbourne College Choral Society is joining with the ESO to perform Parry’s Hear my Prayer and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, and in June, again in St Saviour’s Church, when today’s winner will play with the orchestra.

The ESO Young Soloist Competition

The ESO Young Soloist Competition was established in 1988 as a result of the 11th Duke of Devonshire’s financial generosity towards the Orchestra, to offer young soloists the opportunity of performing with an orchestra. In the twenty-three years of its existence, the competition has created increasing interest throughout the country and abroad, with an increasingly high standard of entry.

The competition is open to competitors aged 23 and under on 31 December 2010 and will carry a first prize of £500. The winner will also have the opportunity to perform a concerto with the Orchestra at a concert later in the year. Runner-up prizes include the Colonel Howes award of £300 and the May and Norman Cox Memorial Prize of £200. The best performance given by a competitor under the age of 18 will win the Duke of Devonshire Award and a prize of £150.

Timetable for 2011 below

2012 dates are: first round Sat and Sun Jan 14 and 15; final round Sunday Feb 5  

The first round will take place during the afternoons of Saturday 15 (1.30-6pm) and Sunday 16 (11.45am to 6pm) January 2011 in the Music School at Eastbourne College. (Timings are subject to change but accurate as on 6 January; there are currently 35 competitors.) An audience is welcome to come and go as they please between competitors. Entrance is free and there is no need to book; just turn up.

Competitors will be required to offer a balanced programme (eg two contrasting pieces) of his/her choice, not exceeding 15 minutes in total. Orchestral instrumentalists will be expected to perform at least part of their programme with piano accompaniment.

The final round will be held between 2 and 6pm on Sunday 13 February 2011 in Eastbourne College Theatre. Tickets £8 (including tea) (£6 concessions for ESO Friends and members of the Eastbourne College Society) on the door; no need to reserve seats. Adjudication is at about 5.30pm. (We are aware that there is an LPO concert on this afternoon  in the Congress Theatre across the road. This is an unfortunate clash for which we apologise. The LPO programme of concerts in Eastbourne did not include 13 February when the ESO arranged this date for the final.)

Competitors will be required to play a movement from each of two contrasting concertos, the programme not exceeding 20 minutes in total.
No piece chosen in the first round may be repeated in the final round.

Entry Fee

The entry fee for the competition for competitors is £20, payable to Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra.  

You need to post it with the application form which can be downloaded here.

For full details, please refer to the competition rules.

For a full list of past winners, click HERE.

For a copy of the APPLICATION FORM, click HERE.

All rounds of the competition will take place at Eastbourne College, and an audience is welcome on each occasion.

The competition will be judged by a panel including:

GRAHAM JONES
Musical Director, Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra (Chairman)

LISA WIGMORE
Leader, Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra

DORINA LATAWSKI
Pianist and Accompanist; Examiner

PHILIP EDWARDS
Clarinettist

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS WEDNESDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2010.

Further details and application forms may also be obtained from

Brian Knights, 7 Prideaux Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2NW

Tel: +44 (0)1323 724763; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Competition Rules

Requirements:

The competition is for solo performers of:

piano, strings, woodwind and brass instruments.

Competitors must be of a minimum standard equivalent to grade 8 of the Associated Board examinations.

Competitors must have been born on or after 1 January 1987.

Competitors may be of any nationality.

Entries:

Entries must be received by 1 December 2010, together with the entry fee of £20, a CV or recent biographical notes and an A5-sized stamped self-addressed envelope.

Please ensure that the correct postage is used. Insufficient postage may delay receipt of your entry.

All applicants will be notified of the time and date at which they will be required to attend by 15 December 2010.

In the event of the competition being oversubscribed, the organisers reserve the right to decline entry without further explanation.

If an entrant is unable to attend on one of the dates of the first round, please indicate clearly on the application form, and every effort will be made to allocate a time on the other day. Such request must be made before the entry deadline.

Entries by competitors under the age of 18 must obtain the signature of their teacher.

By submitting an application, entrants confirm their availability to attend the dates stated and to honour those dates.

Entry fees are non-refundable, unless the entry is declined, in which case it will be returned.

The competition:

An audience is invited to attend both rounds.

The programme for the first round must not exceed 15 minutes in length, including breaks between pieces, and the programme for the final round must not exceed 20 minutes. It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure that these time limits are adhered to.

The programme for the first round should consist of a balanced programme of contrasting movements of your own choice. In the case of orchestral instrumentalists, at least part of this programme must be accompanied.

The programme for the final round must consist of a movement from each of two contrasting concertos of your own choice. No piece used in the first round may be repeated in the final round.

The judges do not need copies of the music.

Competitors will be allocated a session in which they will perform. You are required to arrive before the start of the session stated, but will be allocated any time within that session, which will last approximately 1½ hours.

Rehearsal rooms will be available with upright piano prior to performance.

Competitors are required to provide their accompanist. Anyone having problems may apply to the organisers for suggested names of available accompanists. All arrangements will be made on a private basis.

No adjudication or comments will be made either written or verbally, except for the final round.

No recording of performances may be made at either round.

Prizes:

The first prize, “The Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist of the Year”, will be £500 together with a concerto performance with the Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra at a date to be arranged.

A second prize, “The Colonel Howes Award”, of £300.

A third prize, “The May and Norman Cox Memorial Prize” of £200.

Runner-up prizes of £100.

The Duke of Devonshire Award of £150 will be presented for the best performance given by a competitor under the age of 18.

Please note that the judges reserve the right to alter any of the above prizes as they see fit.