Canada International Arts & Music Society Announces First International Classical Music Competition in BC History
Vancouver, BC, June 27, 2017
The 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition (VIMC) Committee held a press conference and fundraiser at the BC Canadian Music Centre – British Columbia Region, officially announcing the inauguration of the first international classical music competition in the history in the province.
Organized by the Canada International Arts & Music Society (CIAMS), the VIMC was announced as a multinational classical music competition for three age groups and three instrumental categories including piano, strings, and voice. Eligible string instruments for the event include violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, and guitar. Celebrating Canada’s 150th Anniversary, the VIMC aims to promote Canadian classical music worldwide by establishing prizes for performing Canadian classical compositions.
(L-R) Nigel Mojica, press conference host, Dr. Corey Hamm, UBC professor of piano and 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition (VIMC) jury member, Andrew Dawes, UBC professor emeritus of violin and VIMC jury member, Keiko Alexander, piano instructor at the Music Institute of Chicago and VIMC artistic advisor, Lynn Liu, President of the VIMC and the Canada International Arts & Music Society (CIAMS), Sean Bickerton, BC Director of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC) and VIMC jury member, Jocelyn Morlock, Vancouver Symphony composer in residence and VIMC jury member, and Graham Blank, Vice President and Director at Tom Lee Music Canada speak at the BC Region Canadian Music Centre in Vancouver at a press conference to announce the 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition on June 27, 2017.
(L-R) Keiko Alexander, Lynn Liu, Sean Bickerton, Jocelyn Morlock, and Graham Blank speak to the media at the 2017 VIMC press conference.
Lynn Liu, the President of CIAMS and the 2017 VIMC, Sean Bickerton, BC Director of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), and Keiko Alexander, piano instructor at the Music Institute of Chicago spoke along with other invited speakers. Liu explained her inspiration for the competition in an interview saying, “I noticed that while there have been music festivals and competitions in Vancouver through the years, there has never been an international music competition in Vancouver. A thought occurred to me late one night that Vancouver is such a world-renowned city with its beautiful scenery that it deserves an international music competition of its own.” Alexander, a VIMC artistic advisor, flew in from Chicago to show her support for the event saying, “What Lynn has done so far is impressive. I didn’t think she could put so much together so quickly. I’m excited to be a part of this event.” Bickerton, also joining the competition as a jury member, gave a speech and explained why the CMC is a supportive partner of the VIMC. The CMC, a noted supporter of Canadian composers makes sheet music of Canadian compositions available on their website for competitors.
Keiko Alexander speaks at the press conference to announce the 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition to members of the media along with (other panelists left to right) Corey Hamm, Andrew Dawes, Lynn Liu, Sean Bickerton, Jocelyn Morlock and Graham Blank on June 27th, 2017.
(L-R) University of British Columbia music Professors Corey Hamm and Andrew Dawes speak to the media on June 27, 2017 to announce the 2017 VIMC. Both Hamm and Dawes are among members of the jury for the competition.
It was noted at the press conference that Liu quickly assembled a competition committee, nine jury members, and five artistic advisors. Composer and pianist Brad Stark, the Vice President of the VIMC explained in a speech that their committee comes from diverse backgrounds saying, “Our committee members are leaders in the musical community, concert organizers, and music educators. We hope that the successful holding of this event will pave the way for future Vancouver international music competitions with our event growing in importance as the years go by, leaving a lasting cultural legacy for the city of Vancouver as well as the province.”
VIMC Vice President Brad Stark responds to questions from the media alongside Jacob Seyer (back row, R-L) and VIMC panelists (front row, L-R) Corey Hamm, Andrew Dawes, Keiko Alexander, Lynn Liu, Sean Bickerton, Jocelyn Morlock, and Graham Blank on June 27, 2017.
VIMC committee member Jacob Seyer, a guitarist and web designer for the VIMC gave a slide show presentation noting that the competition will take place over a span of four months and consist of thirty events. The competition is expecting as many as five hundred contestants with participants from all over the world. Later in the press conference, Corey Hamm, a pianist and a music professor at UBC played a piece entitled “Corybantic” by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra composer in residence Jocelyn Morlock. Hamm’s excellent performance of Morlock’s flashy piano piece was received with warm applause. Both Hamm and Morlock are part of the jury for the competition. Another VIMC jury member, violinist and UBC Professor Emeritus Andrew Dawes also gave a speech. Graham Blank, the Vice President of Tom Lee Music, a sponsor for the VIMC, spoke positively of the competition committee’s efforts to hold an international music competition at the press conference.
VIMC committee member Jacob Seyer presents a slide show presentation about the VIMC during the fundraiser portion of the event on June 27, 2017 at the Canadian Music Centre.
Corey Hamm speaks before performing a piano piece entitled Corybantic by fellow VIMC jury member Jocelyn Morlock at the VIMC fundraiser on June 27, 2017.
Jocelyn Morlock speaks about the 2017 VIMC alongside (L-R) Sean Bickerton, and Graham Blank.
Vice President and Director at Tom Lee Music Canada Graham Blank speaks at the VIMC fundraiser about Tom Lee Music’s support and sponsorship for the 2017 VIMC.
It was also announced that the final round of the VIMC will be held at UBC’s Roy Barnett Recital Hall on October 6th & 7th, 2017. A concluding gala concert featuring winners of the competition will take place on October 8th, 2017 at the world-renowned Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Winners in each instrumental category will be awarded a Platinum Prize worth $1,500. More details about the competition can be found on the VIMC website: https://vancouvercompetition.com
About the 2017 VIMC
The VIMC is supported by sponsors including Tom Lee Music, Shiyun Financial group, Vancouver Chinese Culture & Arts Foundation, and other private sponsors. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, Member of Legislative Assembly Teresa Wat, Member of Parliament Alice Wong, CEO of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Jeff Alexander, and BC director of the CMC Sean Bickerton have sent greeting letters for the event. Other artistic advisors for the VIMC will include Daniel Bolshoy, Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar at the University of British Columbia, Rosa Hong, head of the piano faculty at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, Kathy Nordmeyer, pianist and Director of Project Management at Heartland School Solutions, and Tomislav Nedelkovic-Baynov, Professor of piano at the National Music Academy in Trossingen, Germany.
VIMC Official Online Content
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vimcmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vimcmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VIMC_17/
Website: https://vancouvercompetition.com/
(L-R) Graham Blank, Sean Bickerton, and Jocelyn Morlock arrive at the Canadian Music Centre in Vancouver to attend the 2017 VIMC press conference and fundraiser on June 27, 2017.
(L-R) VIMC Press conference host Nigel Mojica and VIMC jury member Corey Hamm share a laugh during a taped interview before the VIMC press conference.
(L-R) Press conference host Nigel Mojica asks questions to Sean Bickerton about the 2017 VIMC in a taped interview.
