Young Artist Competition Report - International Clarinet Association

I.C.A. 2012 Young Artist Competition Report

by John Cipolla, Competition Coordinator

The International Clarinet Association is very grateful to the sponsors of the I.C.A. Young Artist Competition. These sponsors include Buffet Group, Leblanc (Conn-Selmer), Rico, L. Rossi Clarinets, Henri Selmer Paris and Yamaha. It is through the generous support of these companies that this competition is able to offer significant prizes to the winners and attract applicants from throughout the world.

This year there were 37 applications from 10 different countries. The preliminary round judges were: John Strobe, Lori Baruth, and Courtney Calvert. Eleven contestants were chosen to move to the semi-final round. All 11 contestants played in the semi-final round in Lincoln, Nebraska. The semi-final round judges were Kimberly Cole Luevano, Antonio Tinelli, Scott Locke, Sauro Berti and Amanda McCandless.

The semi-finalists were Shih-Yen Chen, Taiwan; Jae Youn, Chung, U.S.A.; Jonathan Copeland, U.S.A.; Kai-Ju Ho, South Korea; Amanda Hudnall, U.S.A.; Roy Park, U.S.A.; François Tissot, France; Kellan Toohey, U.S.A.; Micah Wright, U.S.A.; Shen Yang, China.

Six people progressed to the final round. The finalists were Jae Youn Chung; Kai-Ju Ho; Amanda Hudnall; François Tissot; Kellan Toohey; Micah Wright. The final round judges were Kevin Schempf, James Gillespie, John Scott, Piero Vin- centi, James Schoepflin, Lee Livingood and Keith Lemmons.

The third-place award, consisting of a cash prize of $1000, was awarded to Jae Youn Chung, age 23. Jae Youn Chung says her professional goals are “not just simply to win a prize in an international competition but, beyond that, to share the delight, joy and pleasure of music, which is God’s beautiful gift.”

The second-place award, consisting of a cash prize of $2000, was won by François Tissot, age 24. Francois will finish his last year at the Lyon Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse and at Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse in 2013. As a member of the Absinthe Clarinet Quartet, “Initium” Octet and the Air Force Music of Paris, he plans to continue his artistic activities and prepare auditions for professional symphony orchestras.

The first-place prize of $4000 and a Buffet Crampon RC clarinet, was awarded to Kai-Ju Ho, age 23, who aspires to play clarinet in a professional orchestra.

(L to R) Kevin Schempf (U.S.A.), (judge); Jae Youn Chung (U.S.A.), 3rd Prize; John Scott (U.S.A.), judge; James Gillespie (U.S.A.), judge; Kai-Ju Ho (South Korea), 1st Prize; Lee Livingood (U.S.A.), judge; Francois Tissot (France), 2nd Prize; Piero Vincenti (Italy), judge; Keith Lemmons, (U.S.A), judge; James Schoepflin (U.S.A.) judge