The Menuhin Competition will go ahead as a virtual event.
The competitors and guest artists will participate remotely in a unique online event which includes performances by artists including the Richmond Symphony, Sphinx Virtuosi, Mark and Maggie O’Connor, Chloe Chua and Christian Li. The virtual 2021 Competition will include performances from guest artists including the Sphinx Virtuosi, Mark and Maggie O’Connor and others. The winners of Joint Junior 1st Prize from the Geneva 2018 Competition, Chloe Chua and Christian Li, will both perform solo recitals, and violinist and juror Angelo Xiang Yu will perform with the Richmond Symphony in the Gala concert.
The competition will be held from 14th to 23rd May 2021 with an exciting programme of events which includes recitals, masterclasses, panel discussions and engagement programmes for and with the Richmond community.
“When we postponed the event last March,” said Gordon Back, Artistic Director, “we never imagined that we wouldn’t be able to bring the Competition to Richmond a year later. We made the difficult decision to hold the Competition virtually because the COVID pandemic would have made it impossible for us all to travel to Richmond from so many different parts of the world. We are determined to celebrate these incredibly talented young people, and to provide as much of the ‘Menuhin experience’ for them as we possibly can. Our wonderful partners in Richmond and the London team are working together to create a very special virtual event this May. We are all passionately committed to keeping the spirit of the Competition alive in this exciting new format.”
The students in grades K-12 in the Richmond area will have the opportunity to “Adopt a Performer,” a programme which will allow students to follow, learn about and interact with competitors who will “visit” the classroom virtually to talk with students and present short performances.
In early May, Virginia Commonwealth University will present a virtual re-creation of “Violin Day,” offering clinics and workshops alongside a special performance by fiddler and pedagogue Mark O’Connor.
The Competition
In order to ensure a level playing field for all of the competitors, who will submit video files of their performances recorded around the world, the organisers have provided them with guidelines to make their recordings. These are designed to ensure all the competitors record in “one take” – just like a live performance. They have also adjusted the repertoire to ensure all of the competitors could participate, even those who were unable to work with pianists due to lockdown restrictions.
The Jury
The panel of esteemed jurors continues to represent the highest calibre of educational institutions, orchestras and competition circuits. Due to scheduling and personal reasons, Ray Chen and Ralph Kirshbaum are unable to join for the The Menuhin 2021 Competition. However, they will also welcome violinist, conductor and pedagogue Alf Richard Kraggerud, Vice Principal at Barratt Due Institute in Oslo, and conductor Valentina Peleggi, the Music Director of the Richmond Symphony and Guest Music Director with the Theatro São Pedro in São Paulo, Brazil.
