63 competition entries from 17 countries, including applications
from young musicians from Australia, the USA, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Finland
and Poland – the 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin
Competition promises to be an extraordinary event.
“Seifert is our national treasure!” says the jazz trumpeter Tomasz
Stańko, who once played with Zbigniew Seifert in an excellent band that
conquered European music stages. And there is no exaggeration in this
statement. Zbigniew Seifert was a unique phenomenon in the world of jazz: a
jazz violin genius, or even a visionary. Though his meteoric global career was cut
short by an untimely death, his music has played an enormous role in the
development of many generations of jazz artists.
Seifert’s output is still held in very high regard. It acts as a
magnet and an inspiration, a fountainhead of powerful emotions. This is
corroborated by jazz giants who had the opportunity to collaborate with
Seifert, such as Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield and Richie Beirach, and by the
enormous interest generated among young musicians from nearly all the regions
of the world by the 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin
Competition. The response of young jazz players is also a proof that the
Competition fills a major gap on the international music stage. It remains an
unprecedented event on a global scale, as the world’s first prestigious
competition specially dedicated to jazz violinists.
The 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin
Competition is being held in the year of the eminent artist’s 35th
death anniversary, and many of Seifert’s musical partners and friends will
honor this event with their presence. The already mentioned Tomasz Stańko has accepted the honorary function
of President of the Competition Board, and he has been joined by artists,
journalists and jazz activists supporting the competition: Urszula Dudziak, Dave Liebman, Chris Hinze, Paweł Brodowski, and
Bert Noglik. Seifert’s one-time musical companions also serve on the
Competition jury: Glen Moore (an outstanding double bassist and co-founder of
the legendary band Oregon), Janusz Stefański (a percussionist and member of
Seifert’s ensembles) as well as Mark Feldman (one of the greatest contemporary
jazz violinists, fascinated with the work and figure of Zbigniew Seifert).
The preliminary round of the Competition finished a few days ago.
From among the 63 submitted applications, the jury has selected the recordings
of 10 violinists: eight male and two female (!). The semi-finalists are: Jason
Anick, Klemens Bittmann, Carod Requesens Apel-les, Bartosz Dworak, Łukasz
Górewicz, Roman Janoska, Dawid Lubowicz, Tomoko Omura, Eva Slongo, and
Stanisław Słowiński.
The ten young jazz violinists will compete during open auditions
held in the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice (on 16th-18th
July 2014). We are bound to see some exciting artistic competition: after all,
the prizes total 17.000 Euro.
The gala concert and award ceremony have been scheduled for 19th
July. The performers of the gala concert in the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art
and Technology in Cracow will include not only the Competition winners, but
also the jurors, who, having accepted the invitation to this concert, have
formed a special band which will pay homage to their late friend – Zbigniew
Seifert.
The 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin
Competition has been organized in cooperation with the Summer Jazz Festival at
Piwnica pod Baranami.
Competition partners:
The City of Cracow, The Marshal’ s
Office of Małopolska Voivodeship, STOART Union of Performing Artists, ZAiKS
Polish Society of Authors and Composers, the Summer Jazz Festival at Piwnica
pod Baranami, Krakow Festival Office, and the European Krzysztof Penderecki
Center for Music in Lusławice.
Media patrons:
Tygodnik Powszechny, Gazeta Wyborcza, Jazz Forum,
RadioJazz.fm, JazzPress.
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