Ravinia announced today a contest to join its two-season centennial tribute to one of the all-time legends of American music, conductor-composer-pianist Leonard Bernstein. One winner will be chosen to perform live at Ravinia on its Pavilion stage in a new Young People’s Concert, featuring works by Leonard Bernstein and hosted by his daughter Jamie Bernstein. Ravinia seeks YouTube audition videos from clarinet players, ages 12–17, performing the Andantino (second movement) from Bernstein’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano.
Audition Requirements
Audition videos must be posted on YouTube and feature a complete, unedited performance of the Andantino/Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. The recording may include an accompanist, but it is not required. Entrants should email their name, age, school, hometown, and video link to [email protected]. Auditions will be accepted from February 1 to 28. The winner must agree to be present at all rehearsals on July 27 and 28, as well as the performance on July 28. Ravinia’s contest rules are available here.
About Bernstein Centennial
In 2018 Ravinia is launching a two-season centennial tribute to one of the all-time legends of American music, conductor-composer-pianist Leonard Bernstein, and in 2019 will open an experience center with an exhibit of important mementos from Bernstein’s life and storied career, including his personal piano. Ravinia’s celebration intends to comment on each aspect of the multi-hyphenate’s career with performances of the compositions he penned, films he scored, composers he championed, and artists he influenced. Central to Ravinia’s celebration is the two-year appointment of Marin Alsop—one of
Bernstein’s final protégés—as the first musical “curator” in the festival’s 113-year history. Bernstein’s own history with Ravinia began on July 4, 1944, with his CSO debut—just eight months after his astonishing New York Philharmonic debut at Carnegie Hall. He conducted 10 more CSO programs at the festival through July 28, 1956.
About Ravinia
Ravinia, located just north of Chicago, is North America’s oldest and most diverse music festival,
presenting over 140 different events every summer, including the annual residency of the nation’s finest orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a nonprofit organization, Ravinia provides arts programs for over 85,000 people in communities within Cook and Lake Counties through its Reach*Teach*Play
educations programs. Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute is a summer music conservatory which awards 60–70 fully paid fellowships each year to the most talented young professional musicians from around the world to work with an esteemed faculty and the headliners who frequent the festival. For information, visit Ravinia.org.