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The Westfield Center International Harpsichord Academy and Competition
Academy, August 6-11, 2012 APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 1, 2012
Competition, August 12-18, 2012
at The University of Maryland at College Park School of Music
Following up on our extremely successful fortepiano competition this past summer, the Westfield Center will partner with the Smithsonian Institution to present the second part of the trilogy, the International Harpsichord Competition and summer academy in August 2012 at the University of Maryland at College Park. Westfield will gather a distinguished international jury and young competitors from around the world, preceded by a week of masterclasses and recitals featuring some of the world’s finest performers and teachers. You are warmly invited to attend.
Academy - August 6-11, 2012 Instructor: Mitzi Meyerson
Competition - August 12-18, 2012,
Concept
The task of the 21st-century harpsichordist is varied, ranging from presenting solo repertoire from a wide variety of schools and epochs to continuo playing and, in certain cases, ensemble direction. While these last two aspects require a considerable amount of rehearsal time to be performed well, a comprehensive grasp of the solo repertoire is no less demanding. This competition and summer academy wishes to encourage and help promote the best young harpsichordists seeking a deeper understanding and more profound realization of the core 16th- through 18th-century solo repertoire through the avenue of instruments, sources, and performance practices familiar to the composer. To this end we have sought out an international jury from both sides of the Atlantic for the competition, and established prizes that include important and visible concert engagements in addition to cash awards. A Summer Academy just before the competition will be taught by one of the most important teachers and players from America and Europe.
General Information on the Competition
Open to musicians of all nationalities born after August 1, 1977. The repertoire, with a great deal of choice in each round, will comprise works composed from the late 16th through the late 18th centuries. Several harpsichords of various national and chronological styles will be offered with sufficient practice time available. The application deadline is May 1, 2012. The first round is open to all applicants. Ten candidates will advance to the second round, five to the final round. Candidates may play from a score or by memory. The order of the candidates in all rounds will be alphabetical, the beginning letter to be chosen randomly at the start of each round. All rounds are open to the public. Full information, with complete repertoire list and application details will be available after 25 January 2012.
The Competition Jury
Arthur Haas, SUNY Stony Brook (USA)Charlotte Mattax Moersch, University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana (USA)
Davitt Moroney, University of California, Berkeley (UK/USA)
Christine Schornsheim, Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Munich (GER)
Kenneth Slowik, Smithsonian Institution/University of Maryland (USA)
James Weaver (USA), President of the Competition and Summer Academy, Ex Officio
First Prize, $7,500; (given by Karen & Peter Flint)
Second Prize — $3,500 (given by the Friends of Music at the Smithsonian)
Third Prize — $2,500 (given by John F. W. Roberts)
Audience Prize — $1,000
In addition to these monetary prizes, solo concerts will be offered in several venues.
SCHEDULE: Click Here
Schedule
Announcement | Juror Bios | Academy | Videos | Prize Winners