Source: www.nac.gov.sg

Launch of 2007 National Piano & Violin Competition

The Search for Singapore????s Next Classical Music Star

The biennial National Piano and Violin Competition returns this year in its bid to identify talent and develop excellence in classical music performance.

Organised by the National Arts Council (NAC), the competition serves as a valuable platform to nurture and showcase young musicians in Singapore. NAC is now inviting participation in the prestigious event to be held from 5 to 15 December 2007.

Over the years the competition has remained popular amongst aspiring musicians, with the last competition drawing a total of 276 participants, an increase of 36% from the previous competition.

This year the ????pen???? category, for participants aged 25 years and below, has been renamed the ????rtist???? category.

This change reflects the professional aspirations of the contestants, many of whom go on to pursue a full-time career in music.

Participants in this category will also have the chance to display their musical forte through an expanded concerto set list that now offers more challenging choices and musical variety.

In a significant leap from the six concerti offered in 2005, this year????s competition will offer a total of 30 concerti - 15 for the Piano Artist category and 15 for the Violin Artist category.

Alongside the Artist Category, participants will also be able to take part in the junior, intermediate, and senior categories where they will be required to perform works from at least three out of four periods of music - Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century to the present.

Competitors are also encouraged to offer a balanced and varied programme that display contrasts in mood and approach. To enable senior category participants to widen their ensemble experience and repertoire, they will now be required to prepare any one movement of a concerto of their choice to be accompanied on a second piano for the Finals.

The competition is open to Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Foreigners studying, working or residing in Singapore are also eligible to participate in the Artist category.
The top three winners of each category stand to win trophies, certificates and cash prizes ranging from $200 to $5,000.

NAC is delighted that the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan continues its support for the competition this year. The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan is a recipient of the Friend of the Arts Award.

Registration for the Competition is now open. Applications close on 6pm, 31 August 2007.
The registration booklet is available for download from the National Piano and Violin Competition website, www.nac.gov.sg/npvc.

The public can contact Ms Anna Chew (DID: 6837 9544, Email: anna_chew@nac.gov.sg) or Ms Bernice Wong (DID: 6837 9519, Email: bernice_wong@nac.gov.sg) for enquiries.

Annex
2007 National Piano & Violin Competition
COMPETITION DETAILS

1. About the Competition
The National Piano & Violin Competition was first held in 1997, after a restructure of the former National Music Competition which was organised under the auspices of the then Ministry of Culture in the 1980s.

The biennial Competition serves as a platform for music excellence. It aims to develop the performing skills of musicians in Singapore, to improve musical standards and to identify potential music talents. It also provides opportunities for young musicians to perform in a competitive situation before an international jury.

2. Categories
2.1 The Competition consists of the following solo instrument categories:

Piano

Violin

2.2 Each instrument category is divided into the following age categories:

Artist 25 years and below (born in or after 1982)

Senior 18 years and below (born in or after 1989)

Intermediate 15 years and below (born in or after 1992)

Junior 12 years and below (born in or after 1995)

3. Dates (subject to change)
Quarter and Semi-Finals 5 to 11 December 2007

Finals (Junior to Senior) 9 and 12 December 2007

Finals (Artist) 13 and 14 December 2007

& Prize Presentation Ceremonies

Masterclasses 14 and 15 December 2007

4. Venues (subject to change)

Admission for members of the public is free for the Quarter & Semi-Finals (all age categories) and Finals (Junior to Senior).

5. Awards
The top three winners of each age category will receive trophies, certificates and cash prizes. Total cash prizes amount to $36,800.

Cash Prizes
Artist 1st prize $5,000
2nd prize $3,500
3rd prize $2,000
Senior 1st prize $2,500
2nd prize $1,000
3rd prize $800
Intermediate 1st prize $1,000
2nd prize $800
3rd prize $400
Junior 1st prize $800

2nd prize $400

3rd prize $200

Finalists who do not win the top three prizes, but have shown promise in their performances, may receive Honourable Mentions of $100 each.

6. Adjudication
A panel of three adjudicators will judge each instrument category for all stages of the Competition. The names of the adjudicators will be posted on the National Piano and Violin Competition website (www.nac.gov.sg/npvc) in due course.

7. Masterclasses
The Competition adjudicators will conduct violin masterclasses on 14 December 2007 and piano masterclasses on 15 December 2007. Selected participants of the Competition will be invited to perform for the masterclasses. Tickets will be available from all SISTIC outlets from November 2007.

8. Finals (Artist Category) & Prize Presentation Ceremony
Admission to the Finals (Artist category) cum Prize Presentation Ceremonies on 13 and 14 December will be ticketed. Tickets will be on sale from November 2007.

9. Registration

Registration is now open to pianists and violinists age 25 years and below. The Artist category is open to Singapore citizens, permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners studying, working or residing in Singapore, while the Senior, Intermediate and Junior categories are open to Singapore citizens and PRs only.

Full competition details can be found in the registration booklets. The registration booklet is available from the National Piano and Violin Competition website, www.nac.gov.sg/npvc.

All registration forms must reach the National Arts Council by 31 August 2007, 6pm.

For enquiries, the public can contact:

Ms Anna Chew (DID: 6837 9544, Email: anna_chew@nac.gov.sg)

Ms Bernice Wong (DID: 6837 9519, Email: bernice_wong@nac.gov.sg)

Source: www.nac.gov.sg News Release 23 Mar 2007

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