Masterplayers International Music Competition

Festival Story:

As a world renowned conductor, Richard Schumacher has directed The Masterplayers, a chamber orchestra composed of leading solo and chamber players from all over Europe since 1954. As guest conductor, Maestro Schumacher has appeared with distinguished orchestras in Europe, America and Australasia, at famous concert halls including the Philharmonic Hall (Avery Fisher) in New York’s Lincoln Center, the Royal Albert Hall London, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Philharmonic Hall Warsaw, the Teatro Sao Carlos Lisbon, and many, many more.

Schumacher is founder of the Masterplayers International Music Academy Corporation and the Masterplayers International Music Competition for conductors, soloists, singers, choirs, orchestras and chamber music groups. With his book “The Charisma of the Baton” and since 1981 Maestro Schumacher has been explaining his conducting art in mastercourses throughout the world.

Festival Events:

Workshop 2008 in St. Moritz—at the Top of the World in the superb Alps of Switzerland:

• STRING ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP, WITH 30 TOP PLAYERS CHOSEN WORLDWIDE AND CONDUCTED BY MAESTRO RICHARD SCHUMACHER AT THE FRENCH CHURCH IN AUGUST 2008.
• IN MEMORIAM of HERBERT VON KARAJAN—HERBERT VON KARAJAN RECORDED WITH THE BERLIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AT THE FRENCH CHURCH ST. MORITZ RESPIGHI’S ANCIENT AIRS AND DANCES.
• PROGRAM WORKSHOP
  
  • HANDEL: CONCERTO GROSSO OP.6 N.5
  • RESPIGHI: ANCIENT AIRS AND DANCES SUITE 3
  • BARBER: ADAGIO FOR STRINGS
  • TURINA: LA ORACION DEL TORERO
  • DVORAK: NOCTURNO OP.40
  • MOZART:. EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK K.525
• The workshop schedule includes ten days of intensive orchestral rehearsal. In addition the workshop will include a Final Gala Concert and CDs-DVD recordings.
• Top players of booth sexes born between 1968 and 1992 are invited.
• No course fee for the selected participants.
• All participants are responsible for making their own hotel and travel arrangements.
• Scholarship for free transportation and accomodation will be offered to a limited number of selected participants.
• Certificates to all applicants and selected participants.
• Best participants are selected for the worldclass orchestra “The Masterplayers”. The newly formed orchestra will be touring in 2009 in Europe, America and Japan as St. Moritz Festival String Orchestra.
• Application deadline is March 15, 2008.
• A curriculum vitae, photocopies of documents certifying the musical studies completed and work performed as a string player, a videotape (VHS-PAL) or DVD, three recent photos, a photocopy of the birth certificate or passport and €80 or US $100 non-refundable application fee should be enclosed with the application.
• Please send all application material to:
  The Masterplayers International Music Academy Corporation
  Casella postale 6417 CH-6901 Lugano Switzerland
  Phone: (+41-91) 6092277
  Fax (+41-91) 6092277
  Email: masteracademy@bluewin.ch http://www.masterplayers.org

Summer Conducting Masterclasses 2008:

• CONDUCTING MASTERCLASSES, The International Conductors Institute of the Masterplayers International Music Academy, is an extraordinary organisation in conception and achievement. Absolutely topnoch instruction and advice in the best possible way for aspiring young conductors in a warm, sympathetic human atmosphere. Since 1981 conductors from all over the world have studied with Maestro Richard Schumacher.
• Masterclass dates, August 25 - 31, 2008
• Application deadline, March 15, 2008
• For more information contact by fax (+41-91) 6092277,or masteracademy@bluewin.ch, or visit
  http://www.masterplayers.org/html/conductors_institute.html

Practical Info:

Participant’s information 2008:

• The 28th Masterplayer International Music Competiton takes place in Venice, Italy from September 18-29, 2008 for Conductors—Chamber Music Groups—Orchestras—Choirs—Singers—Instrumentalists in Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Harp, Guitar, Lute, Accordion, Harmonica, Violin, Viola, Cello, Doublebass, Flute, Oboe, English horn, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percusson, Sitar, Cimbalom, and other intruments.
• No age limit. Six rounds with final concert. Distinguished International Jury. First Prize €3000, Second Prize €1000. Bruno Walter Prize for the best conductor with engagements 2009. Masterplayers Prize for the best competitor with engagements 2009. Honour Prizes, Honour Diplomas, Diplomas and Certificates for each participant.
• There shall be no restriction as to the number of participants. In the First Round the participants shall compete by means of the 20 minutes Videotape or DVD recordings of their performances that shall be evaluated by the Jury. The Jury will admit a maximum of 40 conductors and a maximum of 40 competitors (instrumentalists, singers, choirs, orchestras and chamber music groups) to the Second Round. The decision of the First Round Jury shall be irrevocable and shall be made public by April 30, 2008.
  
  • Section A instrumentalists, singers, choirs, orchestras and chamber music groups. September 18-22, Program of choice Second Round with 40 competitors, performance duration 15 minutes. Third Round with 16 competitors, performance duration 20 minutes. Quarterfinals with 8 competitors, performance duration 30 minutes. Semifinal with 4 competitors, performance duration 45 minutes. Final with 2 competitors, performance duration 50 minutes.
  • Section B conductors with the world-class chamber orchestra “The Masterplayers” September 23-27. Second Round with 40 competitors. Program: Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik K.525. Third Round with 16 competitors. Program: Respighi, Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite 3. Quarterfinals with 8 competitors. Program, Stravinsky Concerto in D for String Orchestra. Semifinal with 4 competitors. Program, Wagner Siegfried Idyll. Final with 2 competitors. Program,: Schubert, Symphony 5
    September 28, Gala Concert with the best competitors (Section A and B)
    September 29, Gala Concert with the orchestra “The Masterplayers” conducted by Richard Schumacher
• Distribution of Prizes
  
  • All Rounds in Venice are open to the public.
  • All applications forwarded till 15.March 2008 with registered mail to The Masterplayers International Music Academy Corporation, Casella postale 6417 CH-6901 Lugano Switzerland including a 20 minute Videotape or DVD recordings of their performances, a Curriculum Vitae with a list of previous experience and artistic achievements, Degree Certificates of professional/academic education (photocopy), two recent photos for publications and check in the amount of EUR 200 (two hundred) for “The Masterplayers International Music Academy Corporation” are accepted and the candidates are automatic admitted to the First Round. of the Competition. The Entry Fee of €200 is not refundable.
• All decision of the Jury shall be final and beyond appeal. Performances my be filmed, recorded or transmitted by Radio TV without payment to the participants. Participants should arrange their own accommodation.
• THE MASTERPLAYERS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC ACADEMY CORPORATION
  CASELLA POSTALE 6417 CH-6901 LUGANO SWITZERLAND
  Phone: (+41-91) 6092277
  Fax: (+41-91) 6092277
  Email: masteracademy@bluewin.ch
  http://www.masterplayers.org

THE GREAT WINNERS: MASTERPLAYERS PRIZES 1978-2006:

• Kevin Kenner, Piano—USA; Bernadene Blaha, Piano—Canada; Marianne Lehner, Flute—Switzerland; Alessandro Licata, Organ—Italy; Robert Brianciotto, Clarinet—France; Leszek Bartkiewicz, Piano—Poland; Reimund Korup, Cello—Germany; Henriette Gärtner, Piano—Germany; Gaetano Indaco, Piano—Italy; Barbara Hofman-Haag Inge Rosar, Piano duo—Germany; Norichika Iimori and Chikara Iwamura, Conductors—Japan; Guillaume Boulay, Conductor—France; Florian Totan Conductor—Romania; Hisaya Sato, Violin—Japan; Ferrianto Demichelis, Piano—Indonesia/Italy; Dijmi Krumbach Mantcheva Conductor—Bulgaria; Atsuko Seta, Piano—Japan; Demichelis Pitotto, Pianoduo—Italy; Ulrike Payer, Piano—Germany; Jean Philippe Vivier, Clarinet—France; Takahiro Hoshino, Piano—Japan; Akitoku Nakai, Conductor—Japan; German Marenko, Conductor—Ukraine; Yuri Otsubo, Piano—Japan; Tali Roth, Guitar—Israel; Martin Grubinger, Marimbaphon and Percussion—Austria.
• BRUNO WALTER PRIZE
  Jean Francois Verdier, Conductor—France. Hirofumi Higuchi, Conductor—Japan.
• COMPETITION SITES 1978-2006
  Schauspielhaus Berlin, Beaurivage Palace Lausanne, Villa Principe Leopoldo and Kursaal Lugano, Duomo di Orvieto, Santuario della Caravina Valsolda Italy. Castello Vilanova y la Geltru Spain, Philharmonic Hall Walbrzych Poland.

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