Top viola players from around the globe are travelling to the Isle of Man for the Xlth Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival and Competition taking place at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin from Friday (March 15th) to Saturday March 23rd.
Open to viola players up to the age of 30, the competition has accepted 38 entries from an initial 86 applicants in 26 different countries.
Competitors from the Far East, the USA, Europe, Ireland and the UK will be playing for top prizes totalling ?15,000 donated by the Tertis Foundation which promotes the heritage of the first and greatest virtuoso of the instrument who died in 1975.
His widow, Mrs Lillian Tertis, who set up the foundation in 2003, passed away in 2009 aged 94. The London based trustees, all of whom wish to see her work continued, are energetically chaired by Mrs Margaret Lyons who is visiting the festival.
In addition to a prize of ?7,000, the winner will receive a London recital through an engagement with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Director Dr John Bethell said:"It hardly seems possible the Xlth competition and festival is almost upon us.
"The event has come a long way since it first took place in 1980”.
It had been Mrs Tertis's ‘dearest wish’ to see her husband's name and achievements remembered in a practical way by viola players, according to Dr Bethell.
He has congratulated the foundation ‘for their intense and much valued interest’ in continuing the work particularly the increase in the value of the first three prizes introduced at the last festival three years ago.
The event is supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council whose chairman, Laurence Skelly MHK, said:“I hope that the Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival continues to flourish, attracting international musicians and delighting audiences.”
An international jury, with members from the UK, Turkey, Russia, the USA, France and China, will be chaired by professional viola player Mr Brian Hawkins, a former head of strings at London’s Royal College of Music.
It will include festival president the Russian viola player Yuri Bashmet who is known throughout the world.
In a message to competitors, Mr Bashmet said: “The main thing that will always be remembered is the atmosphere of cordiality and hospitality in Port Erin, your new friends, the joy of creative communication and of course music.”
All 38 competitors will be required to play a specially commissioned set piece by internationally renowned composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Master of The Queen’s Music, which he has dedicated to Dr Bethell.
The piece takes its name and inspiration from a small Tuscan town. It is written in six sections played continuously and is intended to stimulate the competitors’ musical imaginations Sir Peter says.
Following preliminary auditions on Monday and Tuesday, up to eight semi finalists will take part in a public recital at the Erin Arts Centre on Thursday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Three competitors will be chosen for the final on Saturday March 23 at 7pm in the arts centre when prizes will be presented by the president of Tynwald, the Hon Clare Christian MLC.
The event also includes a workshop throughout the week for viola players who wish to attend non competitive master classes, other sessions and public concerts.
There will be a welcome from Dr Bethell and the Port Erin Commissioners this Saturday at 5.30pm.
Port Erin Post Office will be issuing a special hand frank on Wednesday March 20.
There will be an exhibition by Hazel Walsh in the Sir James Mellon Gallery at the arts centre entitled ‘Scenes of Mann’.
