73rd edition of the OSM Standard Life Competition

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1 73rd edition of the OSM Standard Life Competition 21 semi-finalists from 13 to 25 years old hailing from all regions of Canada Masterclass with pianist Yoheved Kaplinsky and percussionist Colin Currie A complete day of free activities for the finals on November 24 Montreal, November 12, 2012 The OSM Standard Life Competition is pleased to reveal the names of the 21 semi-finalists aged 13 to 25 who will be taking part in the 73rd edition of the most important cross-canada performance competition, devoted this year to piano and percussion. The complete list of semi-finalists can be consulted in the appendix and on the Competition website ( The Competition, which this year will mark the 20th year of Standard Life s collaboration, will run from November 21 to 24 in Tanna Schulich Hall at McGill University s Schulich School of Music for the semifinals and, for the very first time, at Maison symphonique de Montréal for the finals and the awards ceremony, on November 24. The public is invited to attend the semi-finals, finals and master classes free of charge. Numerous activities and entertainment are additionally scheduled for November 24 at Maison symphonique de Montréal. Also visit the social networks to discover various exclusive video-clips, produced thanks to the support of Standard Life, featuring certain mentors, former participants, and judges. 21 SEMI-FINALISTS BETWEEN 13 AND 25 The OSM Standard Life Competition this year received 54 applications from all regions of Canada. From that number, 21 semi-finalists were selected: 8 semi-finalists between 13 and 17 in the Piano B category, 8 semifinalists between 18 and 25 in the Piano A category, and 5 semi-finalists between 21 and 25 in the Percussion category. AN OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL JURY This year the honor of chairing the jury for the 73rd edition falls to Mervon Mehta (Canada), executive director of the Performing Arts Division at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Jury members include concert pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (France) and Yoheved Kaplinsky (United States), the latter director of the piano department at the Juilliard School, as judges in the Piano category (Classes A et B). Concert percussionist Colin Currie (United Kingdom) and Cynthia Yeh (Canada), principal percussionist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will judge in the Percussion category. Joining these will be two judges for the finals, Welz Kauffman (U.S.), president and CEO of the Ravinia Festival, along with Maestro Kent Nagano (U.S.), music director of

2 the OSM. The complete list of judges together with detailed biographies are available at osm.ca/competition. TWO MASTERCLASSES A wonderful tradition continues, with the OSM Standard Life Competition once again offering the unique opportunity of participating in masterclasses in the company of jury members. This is an exceptional opportunity to profit from the experience of internationally renowned musicians. On November 21 at 8 p.m., the director of the piano department at the Juilliard School, Yoheved Kaplinsky, will offer a masterclass in piano. Concert percussionist Colin Currie, meanwhile, will lead a masterclass on November 22 at 5:30 p.m. These two masterclasses will be presented in Tanna Schulich Hall at McGill University s Schulich School of Music, and the public is invited to attend free of charge. A FINALS DAY FILLED WITH ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT As was the case with the open house organized in the framework of the inauguration of Maison symphonique de Montréal, the OSM will be welcoming the public free of charge from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (at which time the awards ceremony ends) on Saturday, November 24, the day of the OSM Standard Life Competition finals. In addition to being able to attend the Competition s three finals (Percussion, Piano class B and Piano class A) at no cost, as well as the awards ceremony that will follow in the evening, the public can take advantage of musical performances, lectures and activities, including interviews, thanks to the collaboration of Yamaha and Espace musique. The day constitutes a first-rate opportunity to discover the major talents of Canada s rising generations for free, to visit or revisit Maison symphonique de Montréal, to learn more about classical music and to enjoy unique musical performances. 14 MENTORS TO GUIDE THE SEMI-FINALISTS As with the last two editions of the Competition, 14 OSM musicians have generously agreed to serve as mentors to the competitors in the semi-finals and finals. That guidance makes it possible for the young musicians taking part in the event to benefit from the support and counsel of professional musicians, a happy relationship that makes the OSM Standard Life Competition an even more enriching and formative experience than it already is. Among the 2012 mentors may be mentioned Andrew Wan, OSM concertmaster and grand-prize winner at the 2007 edition of the Competition. Noteworthy also among the mentors are André Moisan, principal saxophone and bass clarinet at the OSM, as well as Paul Merkelo, OSM principal trumpet, who as part of the 2012 OSM Standard Life Competition is awarding a scholarship on behalf of his foundation. Participants will also be able to count on the mentorship of Sylvie Lambert (cello), Denis Bluteau (associate flute), Pierre Beaudry (bass trombone), Stéphane Lévesque (principal bassoon), Dennis Miller (principal tuba), Andrei Malashenko (principal tympani), Serge Desgagnés (principal percussion), Jacques Lavallée (former OSM timpanist and percussionist), Pierre-Vincent Plante (principal English horn), Ali Yazdanfar (principal double bass c) and Vivian Lee (2nd trombone). OVER $100,000 IN PRIZES The winner of the OSM Standard Life Grand Prize will receive a $10,000 scholarship and have the opportunity to perform with the OSM on April 7, 2013, under the direction of Jean-François Rivest at Maison symphonique de Montréal in a concert that will be recorded and be broadcast over Espace musique. The Grand Prize also includes a professional audio recording in one of Radio-Canada s studios, as well as a number of recitals and concerts from Yellowknife to St. John s, in addition to Latin America. The other prize-winners will be offered awards of from $2,000 to $10,000, and scholarships enabling them to study in greater depth at the country s finest music centers. The complete list of prizes and grants can be

3 consulted at osm.ca/competition. BACKGROUND The OSM Standard Life Competition came into being in 1940, on the initiative of Wilfrid Pelletier, the first music director of the Société des Concerts symphoniques de Montréal, which in 1954 would become the OSM. Over the years, close to 300 prize-winners have made a name for themselves at this performance competition, which has served as a stepping stone for artists such as André Laplante, Angela Chang, Louis Lortie, Angèle Dubeau, Lyne Fortin, Jean-François Rivest, James Ehnes, Jan Lisiecki, Alexandre Da Costa and Andrew Wan. All young Canadian performers and permanent residents of Canada may take part in the Competition, which is intended for orchestral instruments, piano and voice. It is one of the few competitions to offer recipients four categories of awards: cash prizes and grants totaling more than $60,000; training scholarships making it possible for the artists to deepen their learning; the chance to be offered professional engagements; and finally the great privilege of performing before an audience with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and being broadcast over Espace musique, Radio-Canada s music radio network. Organized by the OSM in collaboration with its Volunteer Association, the OSM Standard Life Competition is under the presidency of Mr. Jean Élie for a seventh year. STANDARD LIFE PARTNER SINCE 1992 The 2012 edition will mark the 20th year of the fruitful collaboration between the OSM and Standard Life in the framework of this large-scale event. The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada has been an important provider of financial services in this country for close to 180 years. It is committed to supporting the development of the potential of young Canadians, in among other ways by sponsoring the OSM Standard Life Competition for a 20th consecutive year. Standard Life won the 2011 Prix Arts-Affaires de Montréal, Large Enterprise category, for its faithful support of the OSM in the context of this prestigious competition. These young musicians have devoted years of study and practice to the cultivation of their talent, emphasized Charles Guay, president and chief executive officer of Standard Life in Canada. We re proud to accompany them on their road to excellence. Follow us on and Information: (514) or The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is presented by Hydro-Québec. The OSM Standard Life Competition is presented by Standard Life Source: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Julie Bélanger Head of Media Relations (514) jbelanger@osm.ca

4 APPENDIX 73rd edition of the OSM Standard Life Competition DETAILED SCHEDULE Wednesday, November 21 Semi-finals: Piano (class B) 9:00 a.m. Anastasia Rizikov, 13, ON (Nadia Music Academy) 9:50 a.m. Jerry Chen, 15, ON 10:30 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m. Samuel Blanchette-Gagnon, 16, QC (Conservatoire de musique de Québec) 11:30 a.m. Hannah Shen, 16, ON (Royal Conservatory of Music) 12:20 p.m. Break 1:30 p.m. Xiaoyu Liu, 15, QC (Conservatoire de musique de Montréal) 2:25 p.m. Antoine Rivard-Landry, 16, QC (École de musique de Verdun) 3:00 p.m. Break 3:15 pm. Lilian Jin, 15, ON (Royal Conservatory of Music) 3:55 p.m. Soo Jin Chung, 17,CBC 5:15 p.m. Announcement of results 8:00 p.m. Masterclass with Yoheved Kaplinsky (piano) Thursday, November 22 Semi-finals: Percussion 10:00 a.m. Evan Bowen, 22, QC (McGill University, Schulich School of Music) 10:50 a.m. Clara Warnaar, 21, QC (Manhattan School of Music) 11:40 a.m. Bryan Allen, 22, ON (McGill University, Schulich School of Music) 12:30 p.m. Break 1:30 p.m. Krystina Marcoux, 23, QC (McGill University, Schulich School of Music) 2: 15 p.m. Charles-Alexis Côté, 25, QC (Conservatoire de musique de Québec) 3:40 p.m. Announcement of results 5:30 p.m. Masterclass with Colin Currie (percussion) Friday, November 23

5 Semi-finals: Piano (class A) 9 a.m. Devon Joiner, 23, CB 9:50 a.m. Marek Krowicki, 25, QC (McGill University, Schulich School of Music) 10:40 a.m. Break 11:00 a.m. Jeanne-Amièle D.S. Lusignan, 22, QC (Université de Montréal) 11: 55 a.m. Surren Barry, 22, ON (Carleton University) 12: 40 p.m. Break 1: 40 p.m. Olivier Hébert-Bouchard, 24, QC (Manhattan School of Music) 2:30 p.m. Xin Qiang Yang, 18, QC (Marianopolis College) 3:10 p.m. Break 3:25 p.m. Charles Richard-Hamelin, 23, QC (Yale School of Music) 4:20 p.m. Alexander Malikov, 23, AB (Juilliard School) 5:30 p.m. Announcement of results Saturday, November 24 Maison symphonique de Montréal (1600 St-Urbain St.) 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Activities, lectures and varied musical performances in the lobbies of Maison symphonique de Montréal 9:00 to11:00 a.m. Finals: Percussion 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Piano Finals (class B) 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Piano Finals (class A) 8:00 p.m. Announcement of the winners, and awards presentation Sunday, April 7, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. Maison symphonique de Montréal CONCERT OF THE PRIZE-WINNER WITH THE ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL Jean-François Rivest, conductor Grand-Prize Winner of the 73rd OSM Standard Life Competition Dukas, The Sorcerer s Apprentice Work for soloist and orchestra performed by the grand-prize winner Franck, Symphony in D minor