Since the beginning of June, almost 500 emerging musicians and vocalists have met in Calgary to participate in the CANIMEX Canadian Music Competition (CMC).
In addition to scholarship prizes, the winner of the National Final will perform with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra at the gala concert on July 4 at Eckhardt-Gramatté Concert Hall, Rozsa Centre.
The National Final of the CANIMEX Canadian Music Competition features candidates who stood out during regional auditions.
Youth ages seven to 30 have been competing against their peers in categories that represent almost every musical instrument, including voice. Geared toward pre-professional musicians, the next step for many of them is to pursue a career in music, and to perform on the world stage.
“The CANIMEX Canadian Music Competition offers hundreds of emerging musicians an unparalleled opportunity to measure themselves against their peers and plays a key role in their musical development,” said Marie-Claude Matton, Executive and Artistic Director of the competition.
“Past CMC winners include internationally recognized Calgarians Jan Lisiecki, Tina Chong, Scott MacIsaac, Susan Hoeppner, Arnold Choi and Annalee Patipatanakoon, to name just a few.”
The number of Calgary-based competitors is a testament to the quality of music education in our city. Ninety-six of the 461 competitors in the National Final are Calgarians.
The competitions build to a gala concert on July 4, recognizing the most accomplished emerging Canadian musicians and concluding the national events.
The winner of the Stepping Stone competition and finalists from three of the four grand categories of the National Final will have the rare opportunity to perform with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of conductor Karl Hirzer.
“Offering these young musicians the opportunity to play with a symphony orchestra, often for the first time, is at the heart of our mission and is a major component of the Competition,” said Matton.
Tickets to the gala concert are on sale for $15-35 at http://arts-tickets.ucalgary.ca/.
