What does a young musician need for a successful communication of his/her passion for classical music?
How to ensure that classical music remains relevant and accessible also for young people?
Do we have a hierarchy in audiences? Are the music fans more worthy than the ones to reach out to?
25 youth music competitions and partners from 14 countries followed EMCY´s invitation for its Conference INTER-NATIONAL net_works+ and 30th General Assembly in Vilnius from 14th to 16th October 2016 and addressed these and other crucial questions. Their discussions were enriched by presentations of renowned experts as Constanze Wimmer of the Anton Bruckner University (AT), Pascal Sticklies of the Luxembourg Philharmonie (LU) and Andreas Berg of the Edvard Munch High School (NO).
Also on the agenda were EMCY´s upcoming activities for 2016-2018 to promote young musicians. In his greetings for the Conference Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, perfectly described EMCY´s main tasks for the coming period: “Our ambition is the same: encourage youth mobility, help to create networks of exchange and solidarity and to allow the young musicians to develop their talents.” Among EMCY´s proposal to the delegates were following activities:
For the sake of fairness and transparency EMCY´s Quality Standards at youth music competitions as well as the digital promotion of competitions were discussed and how EMCY competitions can support each other and extend their bi- and multilateral network.
The EMCY membership also elected a new board for the period 2016 to 2020:
President: Paul Scholer (LU, Concours Luxembourgeois pour Jeunes Solistes & European Competition for Young Soloists)
Vice-Presidents: Mária Slaninová (SK, EMCY Slovakia), Justas Dvarionas (LT, National Lithuanian Balys Dvarionas Piano & String Competition, International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists, International Jascha Heifetz Competition for Violinists)
Members: Àngels Civit Fons (ES, Concurso Permanente de Jóvenes Intérpretes), Boris Svetiev (MK, International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Ohrid Pearls’, Competition of the United Music and Dance Teachers of Macedonia).
In between productive talks, the delegates enjoyed concerts as for example NICO the lights of the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra of former EMCY Competitions´ Prize Winners. The Conference was part of the project INTER-NATIONAL net_works+, co-funded by Erasmus+. It was hosted by the Lithuanian EMCY members: the National Lithuanian Balys Dvarionas Piano & String Competition, the International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists and the International Jascha Heifetz Competition for Violinists. We are very grateful to our generous hosts, Natu knygynas, the Balys Dvarionas Foundation as well as to the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Ministry of Culture for the support.
The European Union of Music Competitions for Youth (EMCY) is a European network of Youth Music Competitions, active in 26 countries. Our main task is to support cooperation and best practise of our members, to uphold fairness and transparency at youth music competitions and to promote the prize winners of our member competitions with concerts, master classes, workshops and tours all over Europe. EMCY stands for musical excellency, the promotion of youth and European cooperation.
