NEW AND NOTABLE
The Hudson Valley Philharmonic string competition produced a three-way tie on March 18, the first time it’s happened in the contest’s history, now in its 46th year.
The contest took place in front of a standing-roomonly crowd of over 400 music fans at Vassar College’s Skinner Hall in Poughkeepsie.
The three winners — out of 20 string players vying for recognition — performed in recital. They are violinist Choi Tung Yeung from the Juilliard School, Ania Filochowska from The Curtis Institute of Music and Max Tan from the Juilliard School.
All three will perform as soloists with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic as part of the 2018-19 or 201920 seasons. The three will also get a trip to Italy to perform as part of the “Musical Landscapes of Italy” festival in August in San Quirico d’Orcia, Tuscany, founded by Poughkeepsie native Steven Slade.
The string competition, begun in 1966 under the direction of then-philharmonic Artistic Director/ Conductor Maestro Claude Monteux, was conceived as a vehicle to identify talented string players for the orchestra,” according to a press release announcing the winners. “Decades later, the annual competition continues to attract some of the finest conservatory string players in the world. Many former winners have gone on to illustrious classical music careers. Previous notables include Marcus Thompson ‘67, violist (Boston Chamber Players); Fred Sherry ‘68, cellist; Ani Kavafian ‘73, violinist (Lincoln Center Chamber Players - soloist); and Adela Pena ‘85, violinist (Eroica Trio).”
The judges for this year’s competition were Ariana Kim, Samuel Rhodes and Susan Seligman.