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SEMIFINALS AND FINALS INFORMATION

This section applies only to those individuals selected as Semifinalists.

Format
The Semifinal and Final rounds of the Klein Competition are short recitals performed in a concert hall in front of an audience. You will not be interrupted unless you exceed the overall time limit. It is important to organize your repertoire choices into the most interesting and varied program within the limits of the requirements. It is also desirable to play different movements in the Finals whenever possible.

The 2012 Klein Competition will feature eight to ten Semifinalists who will all compete in San Francisco on Saturday, June 9. At the conclusion of the Semifinals round, the jurors will select three or more individuals to participate in the Finals on Sunday, June 10.

Required Works
The required works for the two rounds of the Klein Competition are as follows. Not all of the works will be performed in each round (see details below):

  1. An unaccompanied Bach work (one or more substantial movements).
  2. A Classical, Romantic, or major 20th/21st century concerto (as many movements as can be played within the time limits).
  3. The required commissioned work by Richard Festinger (Semifinalists will receive a copy of this work when they confirm participation in the Competition).
  4. A Classical, Romantic or major 20th/21st century sonata with piano (one substantial movement, or more than one if the movements are exceptionally short).

Assembling and Submitting a Program
For the Semifinals Program Assemble a 20-25 minute program (actual performance time, excluding tuning, entrances and exits, etc.) including the movement(s) of Bach, the entire Festinger work and at least one major movement of the concerto (with cuts as necessary).

For the Finals Program
Assemble a 25-35 minute program including additional movements of the concerto as well as the sonata movement(s). You may include Bach and/or the Festinger work if time permits.

The Competition reserves the right to recommend changes in your program. If you have repertoire questions, you will be able to communicate directly with the Competition’s Artistic Director, Mitchell Sardou Klein.

When submitting your program information, please also include a high quality electronic copy of a photograph, as well as biographical information (including nationality, age, teachers, schools attended, significant performances, awards and competitions won, etc.) in paragraph form, approximately 2-3 paragraphs.

Please consider the following when compiling your proposed program:

  • Your programs should be balanced and interesting to the listener as well as highlight your best playing. It is generally advisable to play different movements in the Finals than in the Semifinals.
  • Cuts may be made as needed (and musically justified) to fit time requirements. The judges understand this requirement and will not penalize participants based on cuts.
  • Do not exceed the time limit (better a minute or two short than long). You risk being halted by the judges if you run over the time limits. Be sure to include timings when you submit your programs.
  • All unaccompanied works and concerti must be played from memory, except for the Festinger composition, which we recommend but do not absolutely require that you memorize. You are not required to memorize the sonata.
  • You are not required to play the same repertoire as was on your application CD, even though some of the categories are similar.
  • When you submit your program information, please include all details necessary for the printed program. For example: Brahms, Concerto in D Major, Opus 77, Allegro non troppo (9:00) or Prokofiev, Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Opus 80, Allegrissimo (3:50).

Photo of 2011 juror Alice Schoenfeld

2011 juror Alice Schoenfeld talks with prizewinners Mayumi Kanagawa and Daniel Cho at the post-Finals reception. Photo by Scott Chernis.

Photo of 2011 Klein Competition contestants

Four of the eight 2011 Klein Competition Semifinalists: Mindy Park, cello; Elizabeth Beilman, viola; Daniel Cho, violin; and Allyson Goodman, viola. Photo by Scott Chernis.