Carmel Music Society Presents 2012 VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS & WINNERS

REVIEW: Carmel Music Society’s 2012 Vocal Competition Awards Concert, Lyn Bronson, Peninsula Reviews, May 20, 2012

Carmel Music Society

“Since 1927 the Carmel Music Society has presented concerts by renowned classical artists from around the world.”

“The Carmel Music Society, now incorporating the Mozart Society of California, presents an eight-month season of world-class performances, and for 35 years we also have sponsored a competition for aspiring young musicians.”

Carmel Music Society Presents 2012 VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS & WINNERS CONCERT

DATE & TIMES: Saturday, May 19, 2012

Eight Finalists Compete: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. & 1:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Notes:  Winners will be announced at approximately 4:00 P.M.

8:00 P.M.: Concert featuring the Three Prize Winners

AUDITIONS VENUE: Sunset Theater, Sunset Center 

E/s San Carlos St. & 9th Av. 

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.  

AUDITIONS PANEL OF JUDGES:

Ruth Ann Swenson (Soprano)

Clifford (Kip) Cranna, Director of Artistic Administration at San Francisco Opera 

Conductor Nicholas McGegan, Music Director for Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco

Accompanist for all finalist auditions and for the Awards Concert will be Daniel Faltus. 

Note: Anne Thorp, President of Carmel Music Society's Board of Directors will present the awards to the three winners onstage at Sunset Center.

TICKETS:

Free Admission; Open to the Public

NOTES:

Each of the eight finalists will present a varied program of 20-25 minutes.

First Prize - $5,000 (includes a contract to appear in the CMS 2012-13 season)

Second Prize - $2,000
Third Prize - $1,500
All other finalists will receive $500.

Highlights

CARMEL MUSIC SOCIETY

36th Annual Competition (Vocal)

May 19, 2012

The 2012 Competition is open to vocalists who are at least 18 years of age but are no older than 32 years of age on the day of the Competition

Eligibility

Contestants must be either residents or full-time students in the states of California, Oregon or Washington, or have been born in those states, and be no younger than 18 nor older than 32 on May 19, 2012.

Repertoire

Each contestant should prepare a recital program of at least 20 and not more than 25 minutes performance time, not including pauses between pieces. There will be no applause during the auditions. Contestants may select their own program within the guidelines below.

At least one selection (art song or aria) composed after 1970 must be included in the contestant’s program.

The program should be well balanced and must contain items from each of the following categories I, II and III.

I. An aria from an opera, sung in the original language and key.

II. An aria from a major oratorio, mass, requiem or cantata sung in the original language and key.

III. Additional selections chosen from at least three of the following four groups:

(a) German Lieder or French Mélodies (19th to the present) in the original language.

(b) National Art Songs. French if German was chosen in Group (a), German if French was chosen in Group (a), Slavic, Spanish, Scandinavian, or any other national art song school in the original language other than English.

(c) American, Canadian or British Art Songs with English as the original language. An arrangement of a folk song is not acceptable.

(d) Songs or arias composed before 1800.

Finals

Finalist auditions will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Sunset Cultural Center Auditorium in Carmel-by-the-Sea starting at 10 a.m. Each finalist will perform the same 20-25 minute program as submitted on the audition CD, although the order may be changed in the first two weeks after finalists have been notified. Auditions will be open to the public. Judges reserve the right to declare a tie or omit making an award. Decisions of the judges are final. Winners will be announced at approximately 4:00 p.m., and all finalists are expected to be present in the auditorium at that time.

Awards Concert

At 8 p.m. on Saturday May 19, 2012, the Grand Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize winners will be presented in a formal Awards Concert at Sunset Cultural Center Auditorium in Carmel. Prize winners will perform the same program as for final auditions, although the order may be changed immediately after announcement of the winners.