The winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko, has been criticized because he did not shake hands with Vadim Repin, unlike he did with other jury members. This, however is not to be criticized, since it is fully understandable. If any criticism should be raised than towards the Competition which should not have admitted a jury member who has recently been medaled by Putin and who is running in festival in Russia and whose wife is a member of the Putin party. Read More →

After the Finnish magazine Long Play published an article about a classical music professional’s inappropriate and harassing behavior towards young men, conductor Jonas Rannila said on Facebook that this professional was no other than him. Now, the 35-year-old conductor who is currently Music Director of Opera Box, Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Choir and Artistic Director of the Finnish Oratorio Choir has been fired by the Finnish National Opera. Read More →

Ruth Reinhardt

36-year-old German conductor Ruth Reinhardt has been appointed Music Director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic. She will be the sixth Music Director in RI Phil’s 80-year history. Principal Conductor Robert Spano will remain in the director role through  the 2024-25 season. Read More →

Kian Soltani
(c) Marco Borggreve

Kian Soltani war selbst Meisterschüler der Musikakademie in Liechtenstein und gewann 2021 im Rahmen der Gala der International Classical Music Awards in Vaduz den Orchestra Award. Inzwischen unterrichtet der Cellist nicht nur selbst in Liechtenstein, sondern zudem Mitglied im Stiftungsrat der Musikakademie. Beim rezenten Residenzkonzert im Rathaus von Vaduz standen nun seine Meisterschüler im Fokus. Am Klavier begleitete Levon Avagyan. Guy Engels berichtet. Read More →

Dmytro Udovychenko

Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko (*1999) has won this year’s the Queen Elisabeth Competition. The International Queen Elisabeth Grand Prize – Queen Mathilde Prize receives EUR 25.000 and numerous concerts in Belgium and abroad. Dmytro Udovychenko will also have the honour to play the ‘Huggins’ 1708 Stradivarius for four years, on loan by the Nippon Music Foundation. Read More →

The Association Forum International presents the 36th edition of the International Courses for Flute and Piano, which will take place in Diekirch from July 19 to 28. While the flute classes are fully booked, some opportunities exist for the piano classes, the organizer says. Read More →

Gerard Schwarz

76-year-old American conductor Gerard Schwarz, Frost School of Music professor and music director of the Frost Symphony Orchestra, has renewed his contract as Music Director of the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) in Greensboro, North Carolina. Read More →

Leipzigs Musikmuseen widmen Frauen der Musikszene ein Themenjahr. Unter dem Motto ‘Stark!’ lenken sie ab dem 31. Mai den Blick auf die Frauen. Diese Museen sind das Mendelssohn-Haus, das Bach-Museum, das Schumann-Haus, das Stadtgeschichtliche Museum, die Grieg-Begegnungsstätte und das Musikinstrumentenmuseum der Universität Leipzig. Read More →

Stilian Kirov
(c) Chuck Moss

After the unexpected departure  of Music Director Radu Paponiu this spring, the Southwest Florida has appointed the 40-year-old American Stilian Kirov as Interim Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor. Read More →

Keitaro Harada

The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has appointed 39-year-old Japanese conductor Keitaro Harada as the fifth Music Director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Read More →