Louise Lansdown on the Upcoming Lionel Tertis and Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competitions

Two longstanding British viola competitions will join forces to run concurrently in 2025 in Gateshead

The Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition (LTIVC) and the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition (CAIVC) will be hosted in Gateshead in January 2025.

The two competitions now target different age ranges, with the LTIVC serving violists aged 19 to 30 and the CAIVC open to players aged 18 and under.

Applications must be received for both competitions by Friday, May 10, 2024.

Ahead of next year's exciting event, we had the chance to talk with Louise Lansdown, the founder and Artistic Director of the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition and Festival, who was also recently appointed as Chief Artistic Director of both the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions.

What was the driving factor in hosting the two competitions at the same time?

The announcement that the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition would no longer be held on the Isle of Man (its home since the competition was founded in 1980) and instead on UK mainland was the catalyst that got me and others thinking about where it might be held. Since we wanted to preserve both the Cecil Aronowitz and Lionel Tertis Competitions we felt it would be unduly challenging to run two completely separate international viola competitions in the same country. Not only would there have been an overlap in terms of age eligibility (Tertis until age 30 and Aronowitz 21 and under) but also financially. It would have been inordinately challenging to hold two major international viola competitions in the same country and access financial support for both. We were convinced that one or both would suffer as a result. Hence we decided to bring them together and strengthen them both with just a few small changes and the prospect of a huge viola event with both competitions and an international festival running alongside.

 

Can you tell us about the Glasshouse International Centre for Music? 

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers. It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practice in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia. As an international centre for music, they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.

Which is why every year more than 2 million people are able to join for top-notch gigs, concerts, and classes – in their venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North East, and through livestreamed performances and digital lessons.

Whether you’re making it up or taking it in, you’ll find music lives and grows there.

 

Why was the Glasshouse chosen as the competitions' headquarters? Why Gateshead?

We chose the Glasshouse because of its incredible versatility, quality of its world class orchestra The Royal Northern Sinfonia, it’s facilities, educational ethos and its proximity to Hartlepool, the birthplace of Lionel Tertis.

 

For whom is each competition suited?

The Cecil Aronowitz competition is now for age 18 years and under, having changed from it’s original age bracket of 21 years and under. The Lionel Tertis is now for ages 19-30 years, having changed from 30 years and under. I would love to encourage all violists who would like to accelerate their learning, are aspiring to competition success, meet a community of other violists from around the world and be part of the biggest viola event in the world to apply!!

 

What is your goal in hosting those two competitions concurrently?

Our goal is to bring a vast international and national community of violists together of varying ages and to promote and support excellence and young talent. We hope to be instrumental in finding new talent and supporting young violists through world-class opportunities, exposure, and career-changing prizes. Our goal is to fortify and solidify the future of the viola not only in the UK but across the globe.

The UK has such a rich viola legacy that not only needs to be preserved but celebrated. Alongside the competitions, the 360-degree festival will be held with concerts, talks, events for schools, music hubs, conservatoires, instrument makers, retailers, and amateurs. Watch our website for more information soon!

 

What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to having hundreds of violists together under one roof and celebrating our incredible instrument together!

 

Who is on your jury this year? Are there two separate juries?

There are two separate juries. The Aronowitz competition will be welcoming Jo Cole (UK) as Chairperson and Thomas Riebl (Austria), Asdis Valdimarsdottir (Iceland), Shengli (China) and Garfield Jackson (UK) as the Jury. The Tertis competition will be welcoming George Caird as Chairperson and Robin Ireland (UK), Thomas Selditz (Germany), Lili Maijala (Finland) and Francoise Gneri (France).

 

Can you tell us about previous laureates?

Wow, well the Tertis competition has a long list of laureates to name but a few Paul Neubauer, Kim Kaskashian, Timothy Ridout, Maxim Rysanov, Yuval Gotlibovich, and Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt. Past winners of the Aronowitz include Timothy Ridout, Emma Wernig, and Edgar Francis.

 

When are the applications due for each competition?

Applications are due at 11:59 PM on May 10, 2024