Music Competition - my/maSCENA

Photo: Tam Photography

Report | CMIM Aria Semi-Final II: A Momentum for Fleuranne Brockway?

By Justin Bernard on 5 June 2025 Concert Reviews, Music Competition, Opera, Vocal

We now know the names of the finalists of the Montreal International Music Competition (MIMC) in the Aria category: Fleuranne Brockway, Yewon Han, Junho Hwang, Julia Muzychenko-Greenhalgh, and Thedore Platt. Four of these five candidates were part of the second semifinal, yesterday, June 4, at the Maison symphonique, showing that the level of performance was indeed higher on this evening. We were treated to a battle between the two coloratura sopranos that will continue into the final, to the delight of the audience. Russian soprano Julia Muzychenko-Greenhalgh confirmed once again that she is one of the favourites of this year’s…

Photo: Tam Photography

CMIM 2025 Announces its Five Finalists

By Newswire on 5 June 2025 Classical, Classical Music, Montreal, Music Competition, Vocal

Montreal, June 4, 2025 – Following the Semifinal, the International Jury of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) has selected the five singers who will continue on to the Grand Final of the Voice 2025 edition. This decision, the result of a rigorous process, comes after a series of remarkable performances, during which the competitors won over the jury and the public with their exceptional artistry, expressiveness, and musical sensitivity. Chaired by soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, the Voice 2025 International Jury is composed of seven members recognized worldwide for their expertise and experience in the music milieu: Harolyn Blackwell, Iain…

Photo: TamPhotography

Report | CMIM Aria Semi-Final I: Junho Hwang Emerges Victorious

By Justin Bernard on 4 June 2025 Concert Reviews, Music Competition, Opera, Vocal

For the two semi-finals of the Aria section, the CMIM moved to the Maison symphonique. The first took place on June 3, with a lineup of five candidates. The hall’s different acoustics and the presence of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra behind them shed new light on their vocal qualities. South Korean bass-baritone Chanhee Cho didn’t appear as forceful and dominant this time. While his voice carried well in Bourgie Hall, Cho now had to compete not with a piano, but with an entire orchestra. In “Why Do the Nations,” from Handel’s Messiah, his ornamentations were carefully executed, but they also…

The finalists of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Photo: Ralph Lauer

Report | Cliburn Finalists: A Sausage Fest

By Viktor Lazarov on 4 June 2025 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Music Competition, Piano

The six finalists of the Van Cliburn International Competition have been named. Given the low number of female contestants from the start, it’s not surprising the list did not include a single woman. Out of the six pianists, three are American – Angel Stanislav Wang, Evren Ozel, and Carter Johnson (also a Canadian); two are Russian – Philipp Lynov and Vitaly Starikov (also an Israeli); and one is from Hong Kong, China – Aristo Sham. Three of these finalists were on my list too, not a bad statistic. After submitting my original list for publication, I felt compelled to do…

Photo: Tam Photography

Lucie St-Martin: Winner of the XXVIInd Concours Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici Città di Alcamo

By Newswire on 3 June 2025 Classical Music, Music Competition, Newswire, Vocal

Montreal, May 29, 2025 — It is with great pride that Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20 announces that young Quebec soprano Lucie St-Martin, 2024 and 2025 laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques program, has won top honors at the XXVIIh edition of the Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici Città di Alcamo, held in Alcamo, in the province of Trapani, Italy, from May 8 to 11. Selected as a Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques following the national audition held last April, the young artist was invited to participate directly in the semifinals of this prestigious international competition. Thanks to financial support from the Jeunes Ambassadeurs…

Spotlight | Cliburn 2025

By Newswire on 3 June 2025 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

La Scena Musicale is covering Cliburn 2025 (May 21 to June 7). Here are links to the articles, reports and videos. Live Articles Jacques Marquis Innovating The Cliburn Competition Reports/News Report | Cliburn Finals Part One: Flops and Brilliance Report | Cliburn Finalists: A Sausage Fest Finalists Announced for 2025 Cliburn Competition Report | Cliburn Semi-Final Round: The Last Six Recitals Report | Cliburn Semi-Final Round: The Mozart Concertos Report | Cliburn Semi-Final Round: The First Six Recitals Report | Cliburn Semi-Finals: Chance, Fate, or Merit Semifinalists and Schedule Announced For 2025 Cliburn Competition Canadians Alice Burla and Carter Johnson Advance…

The 2025 AMP Performance Fund Now Open

By Newswire on 3 June 2025 Classical Music, Music Competition, Newswire

Dear Friends of the Azrieli Music Prizes, We are excited to announce that the 2025 Azrieli Music Prizes – Performance Fund (AMP-PF) Call for Submissions is officially open! About the Azrieli Music Prizes Created in 2014 by Sharon Azrieli CQ for the Azrieli Foundation, the Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) offer opportunities for the discovery, creation, performance and celebration of excellence in music composition. Open to the international music community, AMP accepts nominations and proposals for works from individuals and institutions of all ages, nationalities, faiths and genders, which are then submitted to its expert juries through an open call for scores and proposals. About the Performance Fund…

Karim Sulayman in a scene from What Belongs to You. Photo: Jay Mather

What Belongs to You wins 2025 Award for Best New Opera

By Newswire on 3 June 2025 Music Competition, Newswire, Opera, Vocal

What Belongs to You, with libretto and music by David T. Little, is the winner of the 2025 Award for Best New Opera, conferred by the Music Critics Association of North America (MCANA). The award, which recognizes both musical and theatrical excellence, is given annually to an operatic world premiere presented in North America the previous calendar year. The Best New Opera Award is determined by an Awards Committee of distinguished music critics. It reflects the overarching mission of MCANA to recognize distinctive achievements and, through its web publication Classical Voice North America, to communicate the richness of musical life in the U.S. and Canada at a time when classical music coverage…

Photo: Ralph Lauer

Report | Cliburn Semi-Final Round: The Last Six Recitals

By Viktor Lazarov on 2 June 2025 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Disclaimer: This article was written without knowing the jury’s selection of the six finalists. The lists of best recitals and finalists correspond only to the author’s uncompromised opinions. Saturday, May 31: The Craftsman and the Mind The fourth day of these Cliburn semifinals brought about two recitals by the only dual citizens of this competition: Russia and Israel’s Vitaly Starikov and Canada and the USA’s Carter Johnson. Thirty-year-old Vitaly Starikov performed Chopin’s Études op.25 with the craftmanship of an aged master. Each phrase of the 12 studies was shaped with infinite finesse and refinement. A poet of the softest dynamic nuances,…

The finalists of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Photo: Ralph Lauer

Finalists Announced for 2025 Cliburn Competition

By Newswire on 2 June 2025 Classical Music, Music Competition, Newswire, Piano

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 1, 2025—The jury of the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (May 21–June 7, 2025) has announced the six pianists advancing to the Final Round. In this round, each competitor will perform two concertos with Marin Alsop and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. 2025 CLIBURN FINALISTS Carter Johnson, Canada/United States, 28 Philipp Lynov Филипп Лынов, Russia, 26 Evren Ozel, United States, 26 Aristo Sham 沈靖韜, Hong Kong China, 29 Vitaly Starikov Виталий Стариков, Israel/Russia, 30 Angel Stanislav Wang, United States, 22 Visit cliburn.org for competitor biographies. FINAL ROUND SCHEDULE Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Final Round Concert 1 7:30 p.m. Aristo Sham, Hong…

Browsing: Music Competition

Report | CMIM Aria Semi-Final II: A Momentum for Fleuranne Brockway?

CMIM 2025 Announces its Five Finalists

Report | CMIM Aria Semi-Final I: Junho Hwang Emerges Victorious

Report | Cliburn Finalists: A Sausage Fest

Lucie St-Martin: Winner of the XXVIInd Concours Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici Città di Alcamo

Spotlight | Cliburn 2025

The 2025 AMP Performance Fund Now Open

What Belongs to You wins 2025 Award for Best New Opera

Report | Cliburn Semi-Final Round: The Last Six Recitals

Finalists Announced for 2025 Cliburn Competition

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