Adelaide: Monday 16 July 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Thursday evening (12 July), the Finals of the Accompanists’ Guild of SA’s 23rd Geoffrey Parsons Award, named in honour of Australia’s accompanist par excellence for singers, such as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Victoria de los Angeles and Olaf Bär, took place in Adelaide at The University of Adelaide.
The three Finalists competed for a cash pool of $2,500. They were selected from a group of six pianists who undertook Stage One auditions earlier this week, where they performed prepared works with their chosen associates, sight reading and an unrehearsed reading of the set work, Schumann’s Märchenbilder No. 1, Nicht schnell with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra violist, Cecily Satchell.
Judging the Finalists was a panel, chaired by the Guild’s Pianist in Residence for the 2007 Festival of Accompanists, Jean-Paul Sévilla, with local leading pianists and educators, Stephen Whittington and Leonie Hempton.
The finalists apart from performing the set-work with Cecily Satchell, performed works which demanded great technical, interpretative and ensemble skills, including: Poulenc’s and Hindemith’s Clarinet Sonatas, Brahms’ Cello Sonata and Muczynski’s Flute Sonata.
In announcing the winners, Chairman of the Jury, Jean-Paul Sévilla said, “How impressed I was by the quality of the three competitors and their partners. Their sincere and professional performances were much appreciated. It was difficult to choose the winners, as they all had very good qualities.”
The jury unanimously announced that the 2007 winners were:
• FIRST PRIZE ($2,000) Amir Farid of Bundoora, VIC
• SECOND PRIZE ($300) Thomas Saunders of McLaren Vale, SA
• THIRD PRIZE ($200) Karl Geiger of Ridgehaven, SA
Amir Farid (http://www.amirfarid.com/) performed three impressive works by Hummel, Anne Boyd and Muczynski with Melbourne flautist, Christine Morris.
Amir has won numerous prizes at major national competitions as a soloist and chamber musician at the Australian National Piano Award, the Mietta Song Recital and the 2005 Australian Chamber Music Competition with The Benaud Trio. Later this year, he’ll give Elder Hall Lunch Hour Recitals and will be a soloist in the ABC Classic FM Classic 100 Concerto Countdown Concert in Melbourne. In 2006, he won second prize in The Geoffrey Parsons Award.
To find out more about The Geoffrey Parsons Award, visit the Accompanists’ Guild website
In early 2008, the entry forms for the 24th Geoffrey Parsons Award will be available from there or by ringing the Guild on (08) 8431 6030.
The Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia’s Geoffrey Parsons Award is made possible by the support of Allans Music, The Elder Conservatorium and many generous individuals.
ENDS
For further information, recordings, pics & interviews, please contact:
Christopher Wainwright, Publicist
0438 829 728, cmwain@gmail.com
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