Orchestra Toronto launches piano concerto competition

Oct. 31, 2012 - PRLog -- The Orchestra Toronto Concerto Competition

The 2013 Marta Hidy Prize for Piano

Orchestra Toronto, one of Canada's premier community symphony orchestras, is pleased to announce The Orchestra Toronto Concerto Competition: The 2013 Marta Hidy Prize for Piano.

This is the orchestra’s third annual competition for Canadian virtuosos aged 23 and younger. It focuses on a different instrument every year. The 2011 prize was for violin, the 2012 prize for cello. The 2013 prize is for piano.

The competition prize — presented in memory of Marta Hidy, one of Canada’s foremost violinists — is a scholarship of $1,000 and an opportunity to perform as a soloist with Orchestra Toronto at its popular December youth-oriented concert in the 1,032-seat George Weston Recital Hall at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.

Dedicated to providing music education and a wide range of repertoire in all of its programs, Orchestra Toronto performs five concerts each season in the acoustically renowned hall.

The prize was established to honour Marta Hidy’s legacy as a solo artist, orchestral and chamber musician, conductor, teacher and music professor.

Marta Hidy’s passion for music and for young talent influenced the lives of generations of musicians and the Orchestra Toronto Concerto Competition’s mission is to continue that influence. Supported by the Hidy Fund, the competition aims primarily to showcase talented young Canadian and help them make the transition to professional life.

The 2013 competition is open to pianists who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and the winner will be invited to perform a concerto of his or her choice with Orchestra Toronto.

The application process begins with applications available through Orchestra Toronto’s website, www.orchestratoronto.ca, which must be submitted by February 4, 2013. By February 25, applicants must upload an audition video of themselves playing a Chopin Etude (Opus 20 or 25), a Prelude and Fugue from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier and a piece of the candidate’s choice.

The concerto competition jury will be looking for artistry, musicianship, technical skills and stage presence.

Up to six finalists for a live audition will be announced by March 4, 2013.

The finals will take place from 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Earl Haig Secondary School at 100 Princess Avenue in Toronto and will be open to the public. The finalists will perform the entire concerto that they hope to perform with Orchestra Toronto.

The five judges are:

• Danielle Lisboa, Music Director of Orchestra Toronto, who began her professional career as a concert pianist in Brazil

• Boris Brott, one of the most internationally recognized Canadian conductors, who holds major posts as music director in Canada and the United States

• Classical pianist Valerie Tryon, who is active as a concerto soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, accompanist and adjudicator

• Internationally acclaimed concert pianist Arthur Ozolins

• John Dvorak, Orchestra Toronto cellist and son of Marta Hidy

The winner will be announced live at the end of the finals.

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