2024 STRINGS COMPETITION IS CLOSED
Bring out the Brilliance - ARMTA 2024 Provincial Strings Competition
2024 Winners
1st Place - Sr. Cello
Matthew Craig
2nd Place - Sr. Cello
Curtis Fok
1st Place - Sr. Violin
Avery Krahn
1st Place - Jr. Cello
Anthony Yue
2nd Place - Jr. Cello
Heinreich Schmuhl
3rd Place - Jr. Cello
Olivia Chung
3rd Place - Jr. Cello
Yao Yao
1st Place - Jr. Violin
Bowen Li
2nd Place - Jr. Violin
Grace Zhou
3rd Place - Jr. Violin
Gemma Liaw
3rd Place - Jr. Violin
Wilbert Guowei Lu
November 2, 2024
Time: 10am - 4pm
Gaetz Memorial United Church
4758 50 St, Red Deer, AB
Application deadline for Senior Strings: October 12, 2024, 11:59pm
Deadline for Senior Strings repertoire changes: October 18
Application for Junior Strings is now closed
Deadline for Junior Strings repertoire changes: October 16
Application fees:
- Inaugural Junior Strings Competition – Violin, Cello
$30 (Students of all Alberta String Teachers) - Senior Strings Competition – Violin, Cello, Viola/Bass
$60 (Students of ARMTA members only)
Inaugural Junior Strings Competition – Violin, Cello Competition Details
Eligibility
Competitors must be:
- no older than 15 years of age as of January 1, 2024 (Some exceptions may apply – students entering with advanced repertoire may apply for the Senior’s category as long as eligibility requirements are met)
- string student of an Alberta teacher at the time of application
- Canadian citizens or landed immigrants
Repertoire Requirements:
- NO repeats: All repertoire should be played without repeats in both First and Final Round
- Repertoire performed in the First Round may NOT be performed again in the Final Round
First Round (online – scroll down for instructions)
Total maximum time of 10 minutes.
Two contrasting works
1. Major work or movement/s for unaccompanied Solo instrument from the Baroque Era
2. Major work for Solo instrument with a piano accompaniment from the Baroque or Classical Era
Final Round (in person)
Program time up to 15 minutes.
1. Major work or movement/s for unaccompanied Solo instrument or with a piano accompaniment from the Classical Era
2. Major work for unaccompanied Solo instrument or with a piano accompaniment from the Romantic
Senior Strings Competition - Violin, Cello, Viola/Bass Competition Details
Eligibility
Competitors must be:
- no older than 23 years of age of January 1, 2024
- string student of an ARMTA teacher at the time of application
- Canadian citizens or landed immigrants
*Note: Any non-ARMTA member who joins the Association by the application deadline, may enter their student in the Senior Strings Competition
Repertoire Requirements:
- NO repeats: All repertoire should be played without repeats in both First and Final Round
- Repertoire performed in the First Round may NOT be performed again in the Final Round
First Round (online – scroll down for instructions)
Total maximum time of 15 minutes.
Two contrasting works
1. Major work for unaccompanied Solo instrument from the Baroque Era
2. Major work or movement/s for unaccompanied Solo instrument or with a piano accompaniment from the Classical or Romantic Era
Final Round (in person)
Program time up to 25 minutes.
1. Major work or movement/s for unaccompanied Solo instrument or with piano accompaniment from the late Romantic Era
2. Major work for unaccompanied Solo instrument or with a piano accompaniment from 20th or 21st Century
Prizes and Awards
- Inaugural Junior Strings Competition – Violin, Cello
- Violin
1st place – $500
2nd place – $ 250
3rd place – Diploma - Cello
1st place – $500
2nd place – $ 250
3rd place – Diploma
- Violin
Alberta String Association Award for 3rd Place in Junior Violin $100
Alberta String Association Award for 3rd Place in Junior Cello $100
- Senior Strings Competition – Violin, Cello, Viola/Bass
- Violin
1st place – $750
2nd place – $250
3rd place – Diploma - Cello
1st place – $750
2nd place – $250
3rd place- Diploma - Viola/Bass
1st place – $750
2nd place – $250
3rd place – Diploma
- Violin
Prizes are made possible by the continuing support of the ARMTA Recognition Fund
Instructions for submitting your Competition Video for the First Round
Candidates/applicants must submit video recordings (one per work) with the repertoire for the First Round.
Submit your First Round Video Recordings
The videos must be UNEDITED and of high quality –both audio/video. The performer must be fully visible all the time. The videos must be recorded within 6 months before the application and have the date of the recording.
Each video must be marked with the composer’s name, title of the work, and duration.
The video recordings may be submitted in one of two formats.
You may submit a video upload on the registration form or a link to a YouTube video.
Upload Scores & Headshot
You will be directed to the webpage with the upload form right after payment. This is the same upload form as for the videos.
1. Upload a copy of your scores. Number the beginning of each line and the be sure the files are marked with the name of the composer, title, and number of the movement.
2. Upload a good quality headshot photograph for the newsletter, social media, website.
An ARMTA judge will review the videos and will select 4 finalists and 3 runners up.
Selected Finalists and runners-up will be contacted on October 10, 2024.
*The runners up must be prepared to step in for the Final round in case one of the finalists is unable to perform.
If you have any questions contact:
Dr. Chrysanthema Nikol, Competition Convenor
violino@shaw.ca
Sponsored by:
Alberta String Association
Recognition Fund
Natanael Sasaki Violins
Contact us to sponsor this event: Rnarthur@telus.net
Laureate Gallery
2022 - 1st Place - Chanan Ngo
Chanan Ngo, age 14, began violin lessons at 5 with Theresa Plotnick. At the age of 6, he began playing in orchestras and chamber groups. Currently studying under Fiona Carnie, Chanan has had the privilege to play with the Kensington Sinfonia in 2022. A regular scholarship and award winner, he won the Conservatory Sinfonia Concerto competition and placed 3rd in the Canadian Music Competition in 2019. In 2022, Chanan won the Calgary Concerto Competition and had the privilege to perform his concerto with the Calgary Civic Symphony. He was also recommended to the Alberta provincial festival. Chanan participated at Quartet Fest West in Victoria playing the Violin and Viola. He completed his ARCT (Piano) under the tutelage of Colleen Athparia in 2021. He placed 3rd in the Frank Simpson concerto competition in 2022 with a piano concerto.
2022 - 2nd Place - Alayna McNeil
I have completed my second year of a Bachelor of Music in violin performance at the University of Lethbridge, where I am an honours student. I was awarded the Abbondanza Fine Arts Undergraduate award and the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra Strings award during both my years at the university. I completed my RCM Grade 10 practical exam with First Class Honours in June 2019. I have been a member of the first violin section of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra for 6 years, and I was a finalist for the symphony’s 2020 Young Artist Competition, which was subsequently cancelled. I performed in the 2022 Centric Music Fest in Lethbridge, and in the Alberta Provincial Music Festival in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (where I received first place in my class). I was the 2019 winner of the Rosebowl award for the Most Artistic and Outstanding Performer in the Lethbridge Music Festival.
2022 - 3rd Place - Herman Piera
Herman Piera was born in Calgary in 2006 and has studied classical violin since the age of 6. He balances his passion and time for music with his love of soccer. Herman studies violin with Chrysanthema Nikol and has been fortunate to have had master classes with Jonathan Crow, Brian Lewis and Kathleen van Mourik.