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Lorin Maazel to direct new international conducting auditions at IU School of Music
Jan. 24, 2001
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Famed conductor Lorin Maazel will direct the North American auditions for a new international conducting competition at the Indiana University School of Music later this year.
Maazel, known throughout the world for his conducting achievements over the past 30 years, and philanthropist Alberto W. Vilar have just announced the $5 million competition and training program to assist in the development of gifted young conductors.
The IU School of Music in Bloomington, along with Tokyo, Japan; Cracow, Poland; London, England; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Sydney, Australia, will be the locations of the competition for conductors of all nationalities up to age 35. One finalist from each site will be selected for a week of rehearsals and concerts at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke's in September 2002.
Gwyn Richards, interim dean of the IU School of Music, said, "The selection of Bloomington for this event is recognition of the international reputation of our music school. We look forward to working with Lorin Maazel, who is unquestionably one of the world's pre-eminent musicians."
Maazel will come to Bloomington for five days in December to prepare the IU Philharmonic Orchestra for the competition and to direct the auditions.
The award from the non-profit Maazel/Vilar Conductors' Competition Foundation includes training with Maazel and other leading artists for two to three years, plus $45,000 in cash and selection for professional engagements. The number of finalists will be determined later.
Maazel has appeared with all the major symphony orchestras, including Boston, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He has conducted at international festivals and opera houses including Salzburg, Edinburgh and Lucerne, the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera and Covent Garden. He directed the Vienna Philharmonic in a 1994 New Year's concert that was telecast to some 1.2 billion viewers in 65 countries. Maazel has served as music director of the renowned Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra of Munich since 1993.
Vilar is president of Amerindo Investment Advisors, a technology investment firm headquartered in New York City. He is a devout classical music fan who has donated $150 million in support of classical performing arts worldwide over the last few years.
(Maria Talbert, 812-856-5719, mtalbert@indiana.edu or Richard Doty, 812-855-0084, rgdoty@indiana.edu)