THE VENDOME PRIZE
MAJOR EUROPEAN COMPETITION
FOR YOUNG PIANISTS
Semi finals – July 3-4 2003, London, UK
Finals – July 14-15, Lisbon, Portugal
Already hailed as “the world’s most prestigious competition” by Le Figaro when it was inaugurated in 2000, the Vendome Prize is now gaining momentum for 2003. Alexis Gregory, the Swiss-born, Harvard-educated writer, publisher, art collector and philanthropist whose brainchild it is, has been so encouraged by the initial support and high regard for the Prize, he has now established an endowment to ensure its perpetuity.
The Vendome Prize is a competition for young pianists (between the ages of 18 and 28), on the thresholds of their performance careers. It not only offers prizes – US$25,000 for the winner and a further $10,000 and $5,000 for the runners up – but also actively assists in the further development of their careers. $20,000 of the first prize grant must be spent on career development opportunities with the guidance of a professional chosen by the winner. The Vendome Prize Career Development Committee also assists runners-up and other regional finalists, supporting and encouraging them to participate in masterclasses and to enter other major international competitions. The 2003 prizewinner will also have the opportunity to make a professional recording at the studios of the Jerusalem Music Centre, and perform in a series of concerts in Europe and the United States.
The selection process is managed in conjunction with Europe’s most prestigious musical conservatories whose guidance, expertise and knowledge of the European musical scene is crucial to the success of the Vendome Prize. They nominate their most outstanding pupils to take part in the first regional rounds (currently being held). Another unique feature of the Vendome Prize is the character of its juries - different at each stage of the competition and comprising a range of judges, from music professors to leading international artists and music impresarios.
Alexis Gregory admits to not being a fan of competitions – but was persuaded by music professionals and professors, whom he consulted before establishing the prize, that the life of a classical music virtuoso is extremely challenging and competitive, and therefore competitions offer encouragement and reward to young talent. Gregory admits that selection criteria are quite tough (entrants must have minimum eight concertos in their repertoire that they are willing to play at short notice), but is genuinely interested in finding special qualities in all entrants: “Our aim is to seek out, reward, support and guide future professional artists who are technically perfect, magnetic, original and ambitious – in possession of a large repertoire and willing to endure the rigours of performance on tour.”
The Alexis Gregory Foundation is the force behind the Vendome Prize and guarantees the funding required (a total cost of approximately $350,000), but Gregory has successfully enlisted contributory support from other individuals and foundations, particularly for the regional competitions. These have already taken place at the Rimsky Korsakov Conservatory in St Petersburg (sponsored by Paula Cussi, one of the first Vendome Prize supporters), Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Royal Academy of Music in London (sponsored by the Edmond and Lily Safra Foundation). From April 23 through to May 8, further rounds take place at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, Universität für Music und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Hochschule für Musik in Hamburg, Conservatorio di Pesaro in Italy (sponsored by Lawrence Lovett) and the Jerusalem Music Centre. From each of these competitions two winners are chosen to go forward to the semi-finals – each of them awarded a diploma and $2,500 (to assist them with travel to the semi-finals).
The semi finals will be held 3-4 July in London at the Royal Academy of Music (sponsored by The Peter Sharp Foundation), during which 16 pianists will play to a panel of 12 judges which includes internationally renowned pianists Gordon Back and John Lill. Seven pianists are chosen from this round to go forward to the finals (sponsored by the Gulbenkian Foundation) in Lisbon 12-15 July, as part of the renowned Sintra Music Festival. The first stage of the finals will select three pianists to play at a public concert with the Gulbenkian Orchestra on July 15 in the new Olga de Cadaval auditorium in Sintra. On the previous evening, July 14, the runners- up give a concert in Sintra’s magnificent Royal Palace at Queluz, followed by a dinner in their honour.
In keeping with the aim of exposing young pianists to the rigours of a professional performance career, all Vendome Prize auditions, as well as the prizewinner concerts at each stage, are open to the public.
The next Vendome Prize is planned to take place in 2006.
Ends