Preface

The members of the Executive Committee extend a cordial welcome to all participants and all members of the audience for the 8th International Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music”.

We are delighted that so many young musicians have taken upon themselves an intensive study of the demanding repertoire and invite the public to take part in their artistic experience. We, the members of the Executive Committee, would particularly like to thank all participants for their commitment. By the deadline in October of 2011, there was an enrolment of 93 Lied duos, 20 trios for piano, violin and violoncello, and 19 string quartets coming from 38 countries.

We envision for the participants in this competition a major investment in their artistic future. The requisite repertoire, unusual in the competition world, presents in its juxtaposition of traditional and modern music a great challenge. The involvement with the modern repertoire shapes and sharpens one’s view of Schubert, and the reflection thereupon brings new ideas and intensity to the interpretation of both, as well as a better understanding of the continuity between old and new. We hope hereby to encourage young musicians to confront repertoire that they would not otherwise have sought out. The intensive preparation necessary for the contemporary repertoire will make it easier to learn other modern works in the future. The work invested here is, therefore, an essential and helpful rung on the ladder of a musical career.

Above all, however, this competition should be a meeting place for like-minded young musicians who are at the beginning of their career. They find themselves here in a situation in which they can hear the other competitors, and judge and determine where they themselves stand. It is nevertheless important to remember that the performances during the competition are always only a matter of the moment. As we have learned from the participants of the previous competitions, those who did not win a prize also left Graz bearing more than they had come with. We wish the same for the participants in 2012 and hope to make our contribution to their growth. In this context, we would like to express our gratitude to our Secretary General, Mag.a Britta Reininghaus and her team, who, as usual, have taken every effort to create a favourable environment for all participants. In any case we can give them the opportunity to enfold their musical interpretations in beautiful artistic surroundings: the historic Palais Meran, former home of the Habsburg Archduke Johann (for category “String Quartet”), and the House of Music and Music Theatre (MUMUTH) which has made its mark on an international level as venue for innovative art since its inauguration on March 1st, 2009 (for the categories “Duo for Voice and Piano (Lied)”, and “Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello”).

Georg SCHULZ – Former Rector
Christine Whittlesey – Chairwoman of the category “Duo for Voice and Piano (Lied)”, Professor of Lied and Oratorio
Chia Chou – Chairman of the category “Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello”, Professor of Chamber Music – Piano
Stephan Goerner – Chairman of the category “String Quartet”, Professor of Chamber Music – String Instruments