This August, 10 of the world’s finest emerging string quartets will compete in the 11th annual Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC), Aug. 26 to Sept. 1 at The Banff Centre.
Chosen from dozens of applications from around the world, the preliminary jury selected an international roster of accomplished young musicians. The quartets are: Anima Quartet (Russia/China); Attacca Quartet (USA); Calidore String Quartet (USA/Canada); Dover Quartet (USA); Gémeaux Quartett (Switzerland); Linden String Quartet (USA/Canada); Navarra Quartet (UK/Ireland/the Netherlands); Noga Quartet (France/Israel); Quatuor Cavatine (France) and Schumann Quartett (Germany).
The 10 quartets were chosen by a preliminary jury, including Norman Fischer, formerly of the Concord Quartet and current coordinator of chamber music at the Tanglewood Music Center; Jerzy Kaplanek, violinist for the Penderecki String Quartet and Roger Tapping, violist and former member of the Takács Quartet. They met in Banff to review unedited DVD recordings of set repertoire from each quartet applicant.
“The 10 young quartets share an absolutely exceptional level of artistry,” said competition director Barry Shiffman. “BISQC promises to be a week of music making and celebration that is unique in the world.”
During the competition each of the 10 quartets will perform a range of repertoire in multiple performances before a dedicated audience of more than 900. Works performed will include repertoire of classical, romantic, and 20th century music, as well as a new work by Canadian composer Vivian Fung, co-commissioned by The Banff Centre and the CBC. Three quartets are chosen on Aug. 31 to perform a work of Beethoven in the final round on Sunday, Sept. 1, which will wrap up with the RBC Awards.
The RBC Awards, with more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, are made possible through funding from RBC, through its charitable foundation. The RBC Emerging Artists Project helps young artists bridge the gap from the academic to the professional world.
“At RBC, we’re thrilled to support the Banff International String Quartet Competition and young string quartet artists building their careers” said Bruce MacKenzie, regional president, Alberta and the Territories. First prize includes $25,000, a quartet of bows made by Canadian bow-maker François Malo, North American and European concert tours and a creative residency at The Banff Centre, which includes the production of a professional recording by the Centre’s Audio Department. This also includes the Esterházy Foundation Prize, a special performance in Haydn Hall at the Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria.
The second prize award is $12,000 and $8,000 for third. Other prizes include $2,000 for best performance of the Fung work; the R.S. Williams and Sons Haydn Prize, $3,000 for the best performance of Haydn quartet from Round Two; and the $3,000 Székely Prize for best performance of a Schubert quartet.
Information and tickets: Banff Centre Box Office 403-762-6301 or 1-800-413-8368.
