VC LIVE | 2021 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition [WATCH]

The 2021 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition will be held in Birmingham, England from November 6 to 12 — with all rounds streamed LIVE here on The Violin Channel

 

Open to international violists 21 years of age and younger, the first prize winner will receive £5000, an album recording with Champs Hill Records, a fine viola bow made by Robert Shallock, courtesy of Bishop Instruments & Bows, plus a set of Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Gold Viola Strings and Rosin and a Pirastro Viola KorfkerRest.

The 2021 jury will comprise Thomas Riebl, Matthew Jones, and Garth Knox.

Previous first prize winners include VC Artist Timothy Ridout.

 

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12 | 1:00 PM (ET)

2021 CECIL ARONOWITZ INTERNATIONAL VIOLA COMPETITION — FINAL ROUND

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

For the Final Round, each of the three candidates will present the first movement from either the Hoffmeister Viola Concerto or the Stamitz Viola Concerto in D major, in addition to Britten's "Lachrymae" — with conductor Angus Webster and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Orchestra.

 

Violist Edgar Francis | Angus Webster & Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Orchestra

• Hoffmeister | Viola Concerto in D major | 1st Mvt

• Britten | Lachrymae

Violist Hanuel Park | Angus Webster & Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Orchestra

• Hoffmeister | Viola Concerto in D major | 1st Mvt

• Britten | Lachrymae

Violist Noga Shaham | Angus Webster & Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Orchestra

• Stamitz | Viola Concerto in D major | 1st Mvt

• Britten | Lachrymae

 

 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10 | 10:15 AM (ET)

2021 CECIL ARONOWITZ INTERNATIONAL VIOLA COMPETITION — SEMI-FINAL ROUND

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

 

For the Semi-Final round, each eight candidates will present Brahms’ “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91 plus a Solo Viola Caprice of Etude of their own choosing.

 

Álvaro Castelló | Charles Matthews (Piano) | Eleanor O'Driscoll (Soprano)

• Lillian Fuchs | Caprice No. 9

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Edgar Francis | Charles Matthews (Piano) | Hannah Morley (Soprano)

• Rode | Caprice No. 13

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Hanuel Park | Charles Matthews (Piano) | Eleanor O'Driscoll (Soprano)

• Esa Pekka Salonen | Pentatonic Etude

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Connie Pharoah | Charles Matthews (Piano) | Hannah Morley (Soprano)

• Vieuxtemps | Etude No. 18

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Noga Shaham | Robert Markham (Piano) | Samantha Lewis (Soprano)

• Rode | Caprice No. 24

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Marvin Stark | Robert Markham (Piano) | Sarah Bowkley (Soprano)

• Maurice Vieux | Vingt Etudes pour Alto

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Anna Sypniewski | Robert Markham (Piano) | Samantha Lewis (Soprano)

• Vieux | Etude No. 6

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

Otoha Tabata | Robert Markham (Piano) | Sarah Bowkley (Soprano)

• F. Herman | Caprice "Romance"

• Brahms | “Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano” Op. 91

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 9 | 4:00 AM (ET)

2021 CECIL ARONOWITZ INTERNATIONAL VIOLA COMPETITION — OPENING ROUND DAY 4

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

 

For the opening round, each candidate will present two contrasting movements from either one of Bach's Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas (Arr. Viola) or Bach's Solo Cello Suites (Arr. Viola) plus a movement from jury member, violist and composer Garth Knox's "Pocket Concerto".

Each candidate will also present a full sonata for viola and piano on November 8 and 9 before the jury cast any decisions on which violists will progress to this year's Semi-Final round.

 

Joe Skerik & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Vieuxtemps Sonata in B-flat Major

Abigail Smith & pianist Robert Markham

• Rochberg Sonata 1979

Marvin Stark & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Shostakovich Sonata Op. 147

Lynn Sue-A-Quan & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Hindemith Sonata 1939

Anna Sypniewski & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Hindemith Sonata No. 11 No. 4

Otoha Tabata & pianist Robert Markham

• Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata

Yanan Wang & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Brahms - Sonata in G Major

Yujie Wang & pianist Robert Markham

• Franck Sonata

Jaren Ziegler & pianist Robert Markham

• Vieuxtemps Sonata in B-flat Major

 

 

MONDAY NOVEMBER 8 | 4:00 AM (ET)

2021 CECIL ARONOWITZ INTERNATIONAL VIOLA COMPETITION — OPENING ROUND DAY 3

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

For the opening round, each candidate will present two contrasting movements from either one of Bach's Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas (Arr. Viola) or Bach's Solo Cello Suites (Arr. Viola) plus a movement from jury member, violist and composer Garth Knox's "Pocket Concerto".

Each candidate will also present a full sonata for viola and piano on November 8 and 9 before the jury cast any decisions on which violists will progress to this year's Semi-Final round.

 

Álvaro Castelló & pianist Robert Markham

• Rebecca Clark Sonata

Yuxin Chen & pianist Charles Matthews

• Vieuxtemps Sonata in B-Flat Major

Jone Diamantini & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Hindemith Sonata No. 11 No. 4

Edgar Francis & pianist Robert Markham

• Franck Sonata

Brian Isaacs & pianist Charles Matthews

• Bax Sonata

James Kang & pianist Charles Matthews

• Hindemith Sonata No. 11 No. 4

Bill Ko & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Hindemith Sonata 1939

Miguel Sobrinho & pianist Charles Matthews

• Brahms Sonata No. 1 in F Minor

Yat Lee & pianist Charles Matthews

• Brahms - Sonata No. 2 in E-flat Major

Haneul Park & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Bowen Sonata No. 1 in C Minor

Anuschka Pedano & pianist Charles Matthews

• Vieuxtemps Sonata in B-Flat Major

Connie Pharoah & pianist Anthony Hewitt

• Bowen Sonata No. 1 in C Minor

Mikel Rollet & pianist Robert Markham

• Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata

Alinka Rowe & pianist Charles Matthews

• Brahms Sonata No. 1 in F Minor

Noga Shaham & pianist Charles Matthews

• Brahms Sonata No. 1 in F Minor

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7 | 6:00 AM (ET)

2021 CECIL ARONOWITZ INTERNATIONAL VIOLA COMPETITION — OPENING ROUND DAY 2

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

For the opening round, each candidate will present two contrasting movements from either one of Bach's Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas (Arr. Viola) or Bach's Solo Cello Suites (Arr. Viola) plus a movement from jury member, violist and composer Garth Knox's "Pocket Concerto".

Each candidate will also present a full sonata for viola and piano on November 8 and 9 before the jury cast any decisions on which violists will progress to this year's Semi-Final round.

 

Mikel Rollet

• Bach - Suite 6 (Courante, Gavotte)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Alinka Rowe

• Bach - Suite 3 (Prelude, Sarabande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Noga Shaham

• Bach - Sonata 1 (Adagio, Fuga)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Joe Skerik

• Bach - Suite 3 (Prelude, Sarabande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Abigail Smith

• Bach - Suite 3 (Prelude, Bouree)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Marvin Stark

• Bach - Suite 1 (Courante, Sarabande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Lynn Sue-A-Quan

• Bach - Partita 2 (Courante)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Anna Sypniewski

• Bach - Suite 6 (Allemande, Courante)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Otoha Tabata

• Bach - Suite 2 (Prelude, Allemande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Yanan Wang

• Bach - Suite 5 (Prelude, Allemande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Yujie Wang

• Bach - Suite 6 (Courante, Sarabande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I & II)

Jaren Ziegler

• Bach - Suite 6 (Prelude, Allemande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

 

 

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6 | 6:30 AM (ET)

2021 CECIL ARONOWITZ INTERNATIONAL VIOLA COMPETITION — OPENING ROUND DAY 1

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

 

For the opening round, each candidate will present two contrasting movements from either one of Bach's Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas (Arr. Viola) or Bach's Solo Cello Suites (Arr. Viola) plus a movement from jury member, violist and composer Garth Knox's "Pocket Concerto".

Each candidate will also present a full sonata for viola and piano on November 8 and 9 before the jury cast any decisions on which violists will progress to this year's Semi-Final round.

 

 

Álvaro Castelló

• Bach - Suite 2 (Courante, Sarabande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Yuxin Chen

• Bach - Suite 4 (Courante, Allemande)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Jone Diamantini

• Bach - Sonata 1 (Adagio, Fuga)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Edgar Francis

• Bach - Suite 4 (Prelude, Bouree I)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Brian Isaacs

• Bach - Sonata 3 (Largo, Allegro assai)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

James Kang

Bach - Suite 3 (Prelude, Sarabande)

Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Bill Ko

Bach - Suite 4 (Prelude, Bouree I and II)

Knox - Pocket Concerto (I) 1

Yat Lee

Bach - Suite 1 (Prelude, Allemande)

Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Haneul Park

• Bach - Suite 4 (Prelude, Courante)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (I)

Anuschka Pedano

• Bach - Suite 5 (Prelude, Gigue)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Connie Pharoah

• Bach - Suite 4 (Prelude, Courante)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)

Miguel Sobrinho

• Bach - Partita 2 (Allemande, Gigue)

• Knox - Pocket Concerto (III)