|
First day in Germany but--and I do not know why--the first thing
I would like to share with you is how the jury members will choose
the 30 candidates to come to Fort Worth next May. I think it may
have to do with the German way of being organized and
efficient.
During the next weeks, we will use a method that most
international competitions are using right now--a yes/no process.
Without going in detail, the yes/no process seems to me the best
way to be clear about expectations of the jury.
"Do you want to listen to this candidate for the next round?" It
is a very clear question, and what I like most about it is that
this is also the same question that we can ask the general
public.
People are asking what kind of criteria the jury will apply. The
Cliburn is there to launch the careers of exceptional young
artists. Each winner will receive prize money, but, most
importantly, also career management and a lot of engagements. They
have to be ready for the pressure, the challenge of playing a lot
of concerts in front of a lot of people, and the critics…
The jury members--those in the Screening Auditions as well as
those in the Competition--are chosen because they know and can
evaluate what it takes to sustain an international career. Artistic
vision, sustainability, a piano technique that will last,
etc.
In most competitions, there is no discussion of deliberation.
Each member of the jury will personally mark each candidate and
give their result to the competition organizers. The results will
be combined, and we will proceed to the next round. Easy and non
conflictual.
Before I end this blog let me tell you a little story: a few
years ago after a concert, I approached a very famous musician to
ask him to be part of my jury for an upcoming edition.
"What is your scoring system?" he asked.
"It's a yes/no process," I responded.
"Do we have discussion?" he asked.
"Oh no," I said. "If so, an eminent and very strong member of
the jury could drag other members of the jury into his way of
thinking, and it would not be a clear representation of their
scoring."
His answer: "What's the problem with that?" …
Unfortunately, or fortunately, his schedule could not fit with
our competition timeline. :-)
We have now begun the auditions in Hannover and are here for 5
days.
I will let you know how it goes…
-- Jacques
Souvenir de voyage: Haircut in Hannover: check!
My hairdresser surely was a fan of TCU; her hair was …
purple!
Food in Germany: We feel welcome in Germany--for
the first night wir haben Schnitzel, Apfelstrudel und hausgemachte
Bier! As good as Chinese food, but more comfy… :)
Volunteers at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien
Hannover---Meet Magdelena and Elena!
Our 2013 Cliburn screening jury with Dr. Susanne Rode-Breymann,
president of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien
Hannover.
| 
