Composer Competition
Premiere Performances
Italy and New York
Winners of the 2011 Competition are, in extremely close proximity :
Jaoa Pedro Oliveira: "Entre o Ar e Perfeicao", "Between Air & Perfection"
for electronics, piano and flute; from Portugal
Ewan Campbell: "Fading wingprints"for solo contrabass,
from Great Britain
Bernd Schumann: "Das Staunen, wenn der Alptraum wahr wird",
"The Astonishment when the Nightmare becomes reality" for organ,
from Germany
Paolo Geminiani: "Albori di Nuove Epifanie",for solo flute, from Italy
and an award of honor to
Amir Mayhar Tafreshipour: "Pendar" for solo flute, from Iran
2011 Counterpoint-Italy Premieres at Queens College, Nov. 17:
"An array of new perspectives for the route of 21st century music was exhibited carefully and exhuberantly at Lefrak Hall of the Aaron Copland School of Music. This program included Mr. Ella's first prize composition from 2010, which required the sophisticated sound system of this beautiful venue, while Ewan Campbell's virtuoso extended-technique work for solo bass, Fading Wingprints, will be placed in concert with the next set of winners.
Opening the program, Paolo Geminiani's flute solo Albori di Nuove Epifanie -of rare colors and eloquent phrases - drew in listeners, recalling the intimate rapport of works by his mentor Franco Donatoni. Next, Cicadas crafted an extremely complex and original set of instructions for the prepared piano, creating a beautiful and delicate atmosphere from the Cypriot composer who has trained in Austria, Marios joannou Ella. The German Bernd Schumann, in When the nightmare Becomes Reality, treated the organ as his usual electonic medium, producing expressive and commanding effects. Then, Persian tones and flute colors immersed us in the London-based Amir Mayhar Tafreshipour's Pendar; The Iranian and Danish-trained composer displayed ease, freshness, and humor. This varied program concluded with an elegant piece Between Air and Perfection for electronics, flute and piano, by a Portuguese disciple of Bulent Arel, Jaoa Pedro Oliveira, who has just relocated to a University post in Brazil.
One may look forward to the future explorative expressions from these composers,who, without question, have a great deal to say."
NYC, November 18, 2011
Artistic advisors and judges for 2011:
Carman Moore - critic, composer, conductor
Professor Linda Dimartino Wetherill, flutist and director Professor Marco Reghezza - composer
Professor Paulo Tomassi - composer, conductor, and
contrabassist
This was a difficult decision and all entrants are thanked for their extraordinary efforts; I will also be performing some of these with the addition of other entries appropriate to the Hot Air Balloon Festival of Lucca on September 5, 2012. The upcoming competition for guitar, keyboard, flute and electronics, in any combination or alone, will offer another opportunity for additional pieces to be considered for inclusion in the performances. We are extremely interested in works for organ with flute for upcoming performances by Mr. Lyndon-Gee and Ms. Dimartino/Wetherill in NY and Italy, although this will not affect prizes.
ProfessorFernando Maglia - composer, conductor, and guitarist
Professor Diego Campagna - guitarist
Please note that these judges will also assist in 2012, the competition guidelines may be found by clicking About Us at the top of this page.
Counterpoint's 2010 winners:
First Prize: Marios Joannou Ella, Cicadas for solo piano; from Cyprus by way of Austria
Second Prize: Marco Reghezza, Thoughts for solo flute; from italy
Honorable Mention: David Sherr, Birds of Omen for soprano, flute and piano; from the U.S.
Review of New York Premieres of the 2010 contest winners on January 29, 7 p.m., at Steinway Rotunda in Manhattan:
" Mr. Reghezza's intricate THOUGHTS began in flutter tongue, softly and mysteriously rising bird-like from low to high tones with frequent and effective use of trills and warbles. There was an especially lovely long passage of trilling with staccato escapes to tones which coalesced into a kind of counterpointed melody. Mr. Reghezza employed an especially nice use of down-running and up-releasing elements in the work. While the piece as a whole might benefit from a bit of editing and shortening, the work is a strong one, played beautifully by Ms. Wetherill.
David Sherr's setting of Sir Walter Scott's scary poem for soprano, flute, and piano met the famed poet's scariness head-on. Opening with a long flute-and-piano stretch in low tones, the work was properly chilly by the time Ms. Vita rose and began to sing. In a way Schubertian, BIRDS OF OMEN did not let up in its commitment to the text's "lamb bleats to the ewe" or "wild thoughts. . .sinful dark and deep. . .like night mists" lines. With many pregnant pauses and nice, fresh textures and vocal tessitura appropriately dark, Sherr kept the listener at once chilled and interested. A stretch towards the end calling for the pianist to "prepare" some tones and strike low strings with a percussionist's mallet was especially effective. All three artists performed skillfully.
Also presented were 3 of George rochberg's SEVEN EARLY LOVE SONGS; Ludmila Ulehla's TWO THOUSAND ONE for bass flute, piano, and voice, Bright Sheng's THE STREAM HOUSE for piccolo and voice, and Carman Moore's solo flute work BIRDS OF UMBRIA, which Ms. Wetherill executed brilliantly form the balcony to open the evening. "
Italian performances of 2010 winners took place in the magical setting of Piazza di Chiesa in Savona, Liguria, on August 2nd and the Museo Castagno of Pescalia, Val di Roggio, Tuscany on August 6th in 2011.
In 2012, there will be Italian concerts featuring many submissions at the Cultural Center of the Compito in San Andrea during Capannori's hot air balloon festival flights (first weekend of September), other concerts for organ with flute, and also performances for flute with guitar.
Entries for the 2012 Counterpoint Competition for flute, guitar, and keyboard (piano, organ or harpsichord) , with or without electronics and in any solo or ensemble combination, will be received until March 15, 2012.
Guidelines for entering competition are on the next page.
