ARD International Music Competition

The ARD International Music Competition (German: Internationaler Musikwettbewerb der ARD) is the largest international classical music competition in Germany. It is held once a year in Munich.

History

Since its inception in 1952, the ARD International Music Competition has become one of the most prestigious classical music competitions. It was started by the broadcasting corporations of what was once known as the Federal Republic of Germany. It is run under the backing of the Bayerischer Rundfunk and takes place usually in September. Winning a prize at this ARD International Music Competition has been an enormous aid for internationally famous artists such as Jessye Norman, Francisco Araiza, Natalia Gutman, Christoph Eschenbach, Nobuko Imai, Mitsuko Uchida, Thomas Quasthoff, Yuri Bashmet, Christian Tetzlaff, Sharon Kam, Heinz Holliger, Isabelle Moretti, Peter Sadlo, and Maurice André, to name just a few.

The ARD International Music Competition has its roots in an earlier competition. Between 1947 and 1950 the Frankfurter Rundfunk assisted this "Young Soloists Competition". The earliest competition discovered two female vocalists who would soon take their place among the international talented: Christa Ludwig and Erika Köth. Instrumentalists included the flautist Karl-Heinz Zöller and the pianist Robert Alexander Bohnke. This newly founded ARD continued the concept of bringing together talented young musicians from the entire globe.

The first ARD International Music Competition took place in 1952. What makes this competition so unique is that the categories alter from year to year to include solo instruments, as well as voice and chamber ensembles. The importance of including modern music has been very prominent; contemporary composers have regularly been commissioned to write new pieces for this Competition ever since the year 2001. The ARD International Music Competition not only stimulates competition among the many musicians but also serves the musical citizens as a centre where musicians can meet.

Anywhere from 350 to 450 young musicians apply each year to compete. Some 200 candidates coming from 35 to 40 countries make it past the preliminary round. A large percentage of competitors come from countries other than Germany (up to 86%) and this provides the highest levels of competition.

From 2001 to 2005, Christoph Poppen, then the conductor of the Munich Chamber Orchestra, has been Artistic Director of the ARD International Music Competition. Ingeborg Krause took over the task of organising the competition that same year, after serving 35 years as the head of another famous German competition called the "Jugend musiziert".

In 2007, the ARD International Music Competition was in September for the categories of oboe, trombone, percussion and piano trio. Original compositions by Johannes Maria Staud, Søren Nils Eichberg, Jörg Widmann and Maricio Kagel are required to be played.

ARD International Music Competition laureates

1998

Voice (male)

1999

Piano

Violin

Horn

Organ

2000

Voice (female)

Voice (male)

Viola

Flute

Piano Duo

String Quartet

2001

Violin

Cello

Saxophone

Percussion

Wind Quintet

2002

Bassoon

Oboe

Piano

Piano Trio

2003

Voice (female)

Voice (male)

Double Bass

Clarinet

Trumpet

2004

Viola

Flute

String Quartet

Harp

2005

Violin

Cello

Horn

Piano Duo

2006

Voice/Opera

Voice/Lied

Piano

Wind Quintet

2007

Oboe

Trombone

Percussion

Piano Trio

2008

Viola

Clarinet

Bassoon

String Quartet

2009

Violin

Double Bass

Voice

2010

Flute

Cello

Horn

Piano Duo

2011

Oboe

Organ

Trumpet

Piano

2012

Voice (male)

Voice (female)

Clarinet

String Quartet

2013

Violin

Viola

Bassoon

Piano Trio

References

  1. "Alfred Kim". http://www.oper-frankfurt.de. Oper Frankfurt. Retrieved 26 February 2014. External link in |work= (help)

External links

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