VIII International Crusell Competition 2021: Clarinet
July 26–31, 2021 • Uusikaupunki • Finland
– Registration for the competition has ended –
JONATHAN LEIBOVICI WINS VIII INTERNATIONAL CRUSELL COMPETITION 2021: CLARINET
The final of the international clarinet competition took place on Saturday 31st July in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Alongside Leibovici (Israel), the competition finalists performing at the New Church of Uusikaupunki were Aron Chiesa (Italy, second prize) and Ann Lepage (France, third prize).
The finalists performed with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jaakko Kuusisto. Works performed at the Final Round were B.H. Crusell’s Clarinet Concerto 1, 2 or 3 and commissioned work For the Win for clarinet and string orchestra by Matilda Seppälä.
The international jury of the competition was formed of five music professionals and experts. Yehuda Gilad (chairperson), Christoffer Sundqvist, Tuulia Ylönen, Shirley Brill and Olli Leppäniemi, the Artistic Director of Crusell Music Festival noted that all contestants were extremely talented and the level of the competition was very high.
Leibovici received a warm response from the audience, and told that after the competition he would return to Switzerland to finish his Master’s degree.
Three Honorary Mentions for the performance in the competition were also given. The jury awarded Anna Gagane, Tomer Ornan and Ivo Ruf with a 300€ voucher each for the Schwenk & Seggelke clarinet manufacturers.
The Competition Final will be aired at 19.02 on YLE Radio 1. The concert will also be available on the Yle Areena streaming service.
Here are the finalists for the VIII International Crusell Competition
The finalists of the VIII International Crusell Competition have been chosen. The clarinetists continuing to the finals are Aron Chiesa, Ann Lepage and Jonathan Leibovici.
The competition’s final concert takes place on Saturday at 16 at the New church of Uusikaupunki. The finalists will perform B. Crusell’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1, 2 or 3 and a commissioned work for clarinet and string ensemble by Matilda Seppälä.
Congratulations and good luck to all finalists!
Crusell Clarinet competition schedule: semi-finals 28.29.7.2021
Wednesday 28.7.2021
10.00-10.40 Competitor 1: Fallico Andrea
- Crusell Quartet 2 in C minor
- Solo piece, Denisov
10.40-11.20 Competitor 2: Tvrdík Aleš
- Crusell Quartet 1 in E-flat major
- Solo piece, Denisov
11.20-12.00 Competitor 3: Ruf Ivo
- Crusell Quartet 2 in C minor
- Solo piece, Donatoni
—— PAUSE & SOUNDCHECK ——
13.00-13.40 Competitor 4: Puls Julia
- Crusell Quartet 3 in D major
- Solo piece, Denisov
13.40-14.20 Competitor 5: Chiesa Aron
- Crusell Quartet 1 in E-flat major
- Solo piece, Bucchi
Thursday 29.7.2021
10.00-10.40 Competitor 6: Lepage Ann
- Crusell Quartet 3 in D major
- Solo piece, Duft
10.40-11.20 Competitor 7: Leibovici Jonathan
- Crusell Quartet 1 in E-flat major
- Solo piece, Denisov
11.20-11.40 Competitor 8: Ornan Tomer
- Crusell Quartet 3 in D major
- Solo piece, Bucchi
—— PAUSE & SOUNDCHECK ——
13.00-13.40 Competitor 9: Shankar Jay
- Crusell Quartet 2 in C minor
- Solo piece, Carter
13.40-14.20 Competitor 10: Gagane Anna
- Crusell Quartet 1 in E-flat major
- Solo piece, Denisov
Competition secretary: Janne Palkisto 040 8302929
Competition asistant: Senni Hirvonen 045 6062301
Semi-finalists of the Crusell Clarinet Competition is now selected
The Jury has listened to all of the videos and was very impressed with the performances. The level of the competition was very high, and everyone can be proud to have been among the 35 (3 cancelled, 2 didn’t participate) people in the First Round.
The jury chose collectively these ten candidates to come to Uusikaupunki for the Semi-Final Round (in alphabetical order):
Aron Chiesa, Italy
Andrea Fallico, Italy
Anna Gagane, Latvia
Jonathan Leibovici, Israel
Ann Lepage, France
Tomer Ornan, Israel
Julia Puls, Germany
Ivo Ruf, Germany
Jay Shankar, USA
Aleš Tvrdík, Czech
Reserve:
1. Francesco Petri, Italy
2. James Gilbert, UK
Congratulations for you to have made it to the Semi-Finals!
Crusell Competition: Changes to Preliminary Round
May 21st 2021, Uusikaupunki
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crusell Music Festival is unfortunately forced to use its right to change the competition rules and programme.
While the competition repretoire remains the same, the Preliminary Round will be carried out as video selection, based on which only the chosen 10 semifinalists will be invited to Uusikaupunki in July. The Semi-Final Round takes place over two days, Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th July. Competitors have been informed of all changes.
The competitors have also been made aware that the video recording of the chosen piece should be unedited and filmed in its entirety. The piece is to be performed with a pianist and the competitor should be visible throughout video. The video recordings have to be handed in by Friday June 18th after which the jury will announce the semifinalists on Friday June 25th.
For safety reasons the semifinalists will spend time in quarantine ahead of the Semi-Final Round and they will be tested for coronavirus. Crusell Music Festival will cover the test, accommodation and food costs of the competitors while in Helsinki and Uusikaupunki, as well as their journey form Helsinki to Uusikaupunki.
Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by these changes. By taking a step back we hope to ensure a safe and enjoyable competition for everyone.
By the deadline, 164 applications were received for the competition. We thank everyone who entered the competition!
40 clarinetists from all over the world were chosen for the 8th International Crusell Competition held in Uusikaupunki, Finland. According to the jury, all 157 video applicants showed great talent. Therefore, the chosen 40 clarinetists are exceptionally skilled. The chosen participants are aged between 20 and 30 years, including two Finnish musicians: Hanna Hujanen, 23, and Elias Numminen, 28. Ten of the 40 clarinetists either study or have studied at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts in Helsinki.
The competition final takes place at the end of July with participants from Europe and several different countries such as New Zealand, Colombia, the Republic of Korea and the United States.
Congratulations to all 40 clarinetists chosen for the International Crusell Competition:
|
Aldren |
Benjamin |
UK |
|
Álvarez García |
Alberto |
Spain |
|
Apelian |
Anaïde |
France |
|
Buzzi Teixidó |
Bernat |
Spain |
|
Castiblanco Moreno |
Germán Andrés |
Colombia |
|
Chiesa |
Aron |
Italy |
|
Daniulis |
Ignas |
Lithuania |
|
Domínguez Almela |
José Carlos |
Spain |
|
Fallico |
Andrea |
Italy |
|
Gagane |
Anna |
Latvia |
|
Giannakas |
Panagiotis |
Greece |
|
Gilbert |
James |
UK |
|
Hujanen |
Hanna |
Finland |
|
Jung |
You Jin |
South Korea |
|
Keppel |
Kenny |
New Zealand |
|
Kim |
Gilwoo |
South Korea |
|
Kim |
Na Yoon |
South Korea |
|
Leibovici |
Jonathan |
Israel |
|
Lepage |
Ann |
France |
|
Lyskjær Frølund |
Jonas |
Denmark |
|
Lyu |
Shuqing |
China |
|
Mayorga Rodrigo |
Alba |
Spain |
|
Numminen |
Elias |
Finland |
|
Opferkuch |
Max |
USA |
|
Ornan |
Tomer |
Israel |
| Orro | Taavi | Estonia |
|
Paris |
Laure |
France |
|
Perts |
Artūrs |
Latvia |
|
Peterson |
Anders |
USA |
|
Petri |
Francesco |
Italy |
|
Puls |
Julia |
Germany |
|
Rubio |
Maria |
Spain |
|
Ruf |
Ivo Lennart |
Germany |
|
Shankar |
Jay |
USA |
|
Taraklı |
Ömer Berk |
Turkey |
|
Tvrdík |
Aleš |
Czech |
|
Vilanova (Vinadé) |
Clara |
Spain |
|
Virsik |
Frederik |
Germany |
|
Yamashita |
Mio |
Japan |
|
Yang |
Suhyun |
South Korea |
Photo: Hanna Hujanen
The Crusell Music Festival is hosting the Crusell International Clarinet Competition in
Uusikaupunki, Finland on the 26 th to 31 th of July, 2021. Competition is open for all clarinetists born on or after 1st of January 1991.
JURY:
Yehuda Gilad, the Chair of the jury (Colburn School of Music/ Thornton School of Music, USC)
Shirley Brill (Saarbrücken HFM)
Philippe Berrod (Conservatoire de Paris/Orchestre de Paris)
Christoffer Sundqvist (Sibelius Academy/RSO)
Tuulia Ylönen (Finnish National Opera
Janne Palkisto, secretary
PROGRAMME
Preliminary Selection
Preliminary Selection will be made based on applicant’s video recording.
The work performed for the Preliminary Selection is:
Claude Debussy: Première Rhapsodie
The work has to be performed with piano accompaniment. The video needs to be made with a live pianist in the same room at the same time.
Use following service providers to send the link to the video recording: Dropbox, Google Drive, YouTube or Vimeo.
- Recording must be continuous performance and no editing is allowed.
- Applicant needs to be visible throughout the whole performance
- The file/recording should clearly indicate your name
Selection will be made by Preliminary Audition Jury. Chair for this jury is Harri Mäki (Sibelius Academy), other members are Asko Heiskanen (Tapiola Sinfonietta) and Laura Ruiz Ferreres (Frankfurt HfMDK).
Preliminary Round
July 26–27, 2021
Choose one work from both categories
Category 1:
- a) Jean Françaix: Tema con variazioni (1974)
- b) Jeanine Rueff: Concertino op. 15
Category 2:
- a) Robert Schumann: Fantasiestücke op. 73
- b) Robert Schumann: 3 Romances op. 94
- c) Clara Schumann: 3 Romances op. 22
Semi-Final Round
July 29, 2021
The repertoire for the Semi-Final Round should include one of the following works:
Crusell: Clarinet Quartet No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3
And one of the following solo works for clarinet:
a) E. Denisov: Sonata for Clarinet Solo
b) Fr. Donatoni: Clair for Clarinet Solo
c) T. Oláh: Sonata for Clarinet Solo
d) V. Bucchi: Concerto for Clarinet Solo
e) K. Saariaho: Duft for Clarinet solo
f) J. Tower: Wings for Clarinet solo
g) E. Carter: Gra for Clarinet solo
h) D. Martino: A Set for Clarinet solo
Competition organizer provides pianist for the Preliminary Round.
Rehearsal times are arranged by competition organizer.
Candidates are allowed to use their own pianist at their own expense.
Crusell’s clarinet quartet is performed with a string trio.
Final Round
Saturday, July 31, 2021
Works performed at the Final Round:
- Crusell: Clarinet Concerto No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3
- Matilda Seppälä: Commissioned work for clarinet and string ensemble
The orchestra for the Final Round is the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra.
Competitors are expected to perform the Clarinet Concerto from memory.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
First Prize €6,000
Second Prize €3,000
Third Prize €2,000
Special recognition awards are optional.
The jury reserves the right to change the prize scheme. The winner will be invited to perform in 2022 or 2023 at the Crusell Music Festival.
Application fee:
Application fee for the competition is 40€.
Application fee is non-refundable.
DATES:
Online applications for the competition can be sent
November, 2020 onwards.
Competition application deadline isWednesday, March 31, Thursday, April 15th 2021 at 3:00 p.m. Finnish Summer Time.
Confirmation of admittance to competition will be notified latest
Friday, April 30, 2021.
Additional information:
Petri Hatakka
Crusell Music Festival / Executive Director
petri.hatakka@uusikaupunki.fi
+358 500 743073