Sendai International Music Competition

Infobox award
name = Sendai International Music Competition
current_awards =


imagesize = 300px
caption = Sendai International Music Competition logo
description = Exceptional piano and violin performance
presenter = Sendai International Music Competition
country = flag|Japan
year = 2001
year2 = 2007
website = http://www.simc.jp/index_j.html jp icon

The Sendai International Music Competition is a violin and piano music competition held in Sendai, Japan, presented in association with the Sendai International Music Competition Organizing Committee, City of Sendai and the Sendai Cultural Foundation. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/index_e.html|title=Organization : Sendai International Music Competition|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] There is no single winner in the competition; instead, awards are given to the top six contestants in both the violin and piano categories, with first place in each category receiving the highest prize. The competition is international, but most award-winners have been from either Europe or Asia. The first award-winner from outside those continents was Sean Kennard, who finished fifth in the 2004 competition's piano category. As of 2007 there have been three competitions. For a list of winners of the competition, see; List of Sendai International Music Competition winners.

History

The Sendai International Music Competition is held every three years at the Sendai City Youth Cultural Centre in Japan. [cite web|url=http://www.culturalprofiles.net/japan/Units/6630.html|title=Japan: Sendai City Youth Cultural Centre|publisher=www.culturalprofiles.net|accessdate=2008-05-23] It has the stated purpose of "contributing to the development of world musical culture and the promotion of international cultural exchange through the discovery of young talented musicians". [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#sub-read|title=Organization : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 2 (Purpose)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] It was established in 2001 to commemorate the foundation of Sendai City's 400th anniversary,cite web
url=http://www.simc.jp/org/about_e.html|title=Introduction: Sendai International Music Competition|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] and was added as a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) since 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.fmcim.org/comp/city.php?type=org-jv&org_id=287&lang=en&menu=1|title=Sendai International Music Competition|publisher=www.fmcim.org|accessdate=2008-05-22] There have been three competitions held, the most recent being 2007, with the next scheduled to take place on 22 May to 26 June, 2010. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/index_e.html|title=Sendai International Music Competition|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-06-03]

Format

The competition consists of five stages: preliminary rounds, screening auditions, an elimination round in which the contestants play a concerto along with a string quartet or quintet, then the semi-final and the final, in which all pieces are performed with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. [cite web|url=http://www.culturalprofiles.net/japan/Units/763.html|title=Japan: Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra|publisher=www.culturalprofiles.net|accessdate=2008-05-23] The competition is split into two categories: violin and piano. [cite web|url=http://www.city.sendai.jp/kikaku/kokusai/english/art.html|title=Sendai International Music Competition|publisher=www.city.sendai.jp
accessdate=2008-05-23] The number of contestants passing the preliminary rounds is normally around 120 people. Along with the screening auditions, the preliminary stage decides who will qualify for the competition. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#sub-read|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 5 (Structure, Section, Venue and Period)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] Initially, a jury panel judges contestants' recordings. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#r02|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 10 (Preliminary Selection)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] Afterwards, there is a screening audition, which is open to the public, at which the contestant will perform a concerto from a predetermined list accompanied by a piano. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#r02|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 12 (Screening Audition Performance)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] The competition proper consists of the elimination round, the semi-finals, and the final; the number of contestants who progress from the elimination round to the semi-finals cannot exceed 12 and the contestants passing through to the final cannot exceed six. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#r03|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 17 (Competition Judgment)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] In the elimination, semi-final, and final stages of the competition the performances are chosen from a predetermined repertoire; the contestants must choose a different piece for each round. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#r03|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 16 (Competition Performance)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] The judging panel decides the placing of the prizewinners from first through sixth. [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#r04|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 21 (Decision of Prizewinners)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22] The prize money is as follows: [cite web|url=http://www.simc.jp/org/regulation_e.html#r04|title=Competition Code : Sendai International Music Competition - Article 22 (Commendations)|publisher=www.simc.jp|accessdate=2008-05-22]

References

External links

* [http://www.simc.jp/index_j.html Official website] jp icon