The fifth edition of the “Ciudad de Estepona” Young Performers Contest will be held over the next 29 days (semifinals at Colegio San José, at 10:00 a.m.) and 30 April (final at the Felipe Auditorium VI, at 11:00 a.m.), with free admission at the invitation of the municipal delegation of Culture. They can be picked up at the Padre Manuel Cultural Center, starting today, Monday, April 24, until Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
This national contest aims to find and help future artists of musical interpretation, and is aimed at young performers of piano, string instruments (violin, viola and cello), wind, harp and guitar, up to 13 years of age, Excluding those who are 14 years old on April 30, the last day of the contest.
The 10 semifinalists of the V Young Performers Contest “City of Estepona” are the following:
Irene Arriaza González, violin, 13 years old, Bullullos de la Mitación, Seville.
Andrea Beltrán García, cello, 12 years old, Seville.
Inés Maro Burgos Babakhanian, violin, 13 years old, Madrid.
Marina García Lee, cello, 13 years old, Madrid.
Abel Gómez-Antequera Ábalos, cello, 13 years old, La Eliana, Valencia.
Sofía Guillamón García, violin, 11 years old, Cartagena.
Sofía Manchado Chamiso, cello, 12 years old, Badajoz.
Salvador Martínez Ramada, double bass, 13 years old, Benaguasil, Valencia.
Gonzalo Pando Asensi, flute, 11 years old, Lliria, Valencia.
Vega Rodríguez Pérez, violin, 13 years old, Castellón de la Plana, Castellón.
From among all of them, the jury will choose the five finalists on the 29th, who will perform on Sunday, April 30, at 11:00 a.m., in the Felipe VI Auditorium, with free admission, after collecting the invitations at the Padre Manuel Cultural Center.
During the gala, the young violinist from Valladolid Alexander Erokhin, winner of the fourth edition of the contest, in 2022, will perform. In addition, all the semifinalists will receive a diploma after the test.
The City Council encourages citizens to come to enjoy the music of these young virtuous people, who will become great figures in music in the coming years. This contest, organized by the Gradus ad Parnassum Musical Association, chaired by Olga Tarasova, has the collaboration and support of such prestigious cultural institutions as the Reina Sofía Superior School of Music and the Albéniz Foundation, Radio Clásica, RNE, GEWA Strings, the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra (OFM), the ‘Málaga Philharmonic Society’, the Iberian Sinfonietta Orchestra, the ‘Fred Friedrich Foundation’ and the ‘Collegium Musicum Costa del Sol’ Choir and Orchestra.
For her part, the director of the musical contest, president of the “Gradus ad Parnassum” Musical Association and professor of the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra (OFM), Olga Tarasova, highlighted the very high level of the jury members; all of them important figures in the musical field with trajectories of national and international relevance.
As vocals, Fernando Arias, cello, professor at the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music, and assistant professor of cello at the Reina Sofía School of Music; Daniel Broncano, clarinet, manager of the Cordoba Symphony Orchestra and director of the “Música en Segura” Festival; Andrea Sestakova, violinist and 30-year concertmaster of the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra (1992-2022); Ana María Valderrama, violin, professor at the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music; Víctor del Valle, piano, professor at the Málaga Superior Conservatory of Music; and Juan Alonso Mendoza, oboe, artistic director of the Reina Sofía School of Music and the Albéniz Foundation, who will also act as president of the jury.
Cash prizes of €1,000 will be awarded to the winner of the contest, €700 for second place, €500 for third place, and fourth and fifth prizes will get €200 each. There will also be a special public prize of €300 that will go to one of the five finalists.
In addition, the following prizes will be awarded:
• Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra Special Award: Concert in one of the musical cycles organized by the OFM. To the winner of the first prize, the Jury, with the VºBº of its Director of Musical Coordination, may propose a personal audition to be held according to agreement between the parties before the OFM interpreting a work of free choice, alone or with piano accompaniment. Once the audition has been passed, the OFM will propose to the applicant a concert in one of its musical cycles or an extraordinary concert, always by mutual agreement between the parties.
• Special Award from the Estepona City Council and the Reina Sofía School of Music and the Albéniz Foundation, which consists of participation in the “Summer Camp Music and Culture” organized by the School for two weeks in July 2023.
• Special Award “Andante con Moto” from Radio Clásica of Radio Nacional de España. Participation in the RNE “Andante con Moto” program for the First Prize, and the “Summer Camp” Prize.
• New Special Award “Málaga Philharmonic Society”. The Philharmonic Society of Malaga will reward the winner of the First Prize with his participation in a recital in the Sala Antiguo Conservatorio María Cristina during the 2023-2024 season. In addition, at the discretion and decision of the representatives of the Company, one or more extraordinary recitals may be awarded, or participation in that same recital to any other finalist. As compensation for said participation, the Company will provide the participant with an attribution, also as a prize, through the Organization of the Contest, amounting to €500.
• New GEWA Special Award. GEWA Strings will reward the winner of the Contest with a case.
• Special Iberian Sinfonietta Award: the Iberian Sinfonietta orchestra will award a solo concert during the 2023-2024 season to the most outstanding participant from the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, who will be chosen by its artistic and musical director. The orchestra will bear the transportation and lodging expenses of the winner.
• New Special Award “Fred Friedrich Foundation”. The Fred Friedrich Museum organizes a recital for one of the finalists at its facilities in San Pedro de Alcántara during the autumn-winter of 2023-2024, which will also be broadcast live via streaming. Participation in said recital will be endowed with economic compensation directly managed and paid by the foundation, the amount of which will be €300.
• The winner of the Contest will give a recital at the Felipe VI Auditorium on the day of the Final of the VI City of Estepona Young Performers Contest. In addition, all semifinalists will receive a diploma after the test.
• Special Prize “Colegio San José” for the youngest participant.
Organized by the Musical Association “Gradus ad Parnassum”, chaired by Olga Tarasova, artistic director of the contest. Sponsors the Hon. Estepona Town Hall. The Reina Sofía School of Music and the Albéniz Foundation, Radio Clásica, RNE, GEWA Strings, the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra (OFM), the ‘Málaga Philharmonic Society’, the Iberian Sinfonietta Orchestra, the ‘Fred Friedrich Foundation’ and the ‘Collegium Musicum Costa del Sol’ Choir and Orchestra, as well as the San José de Estepona School and the Royal Pianos company.