Twenty conductors have been selected to take part in the 15th Donatella Flick Conducting Competition. The event, which runs from 20-22 November in London, sees performers under 30 competing for a GBP15,000 (€16,800) first prize.
The competition takes place over two rounds, split between preliminaries and a final. Finalists lead the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in a concert at the Barbican. Repertoire for the final includes Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 4 and James MacMillan’s Tryst, with the concert live-streamed by Medici TV.
“Opening the competition up as we have done for the first time this year, with Medici TV live-streaming the final, is something that I feel is very important, as it allows us to share the musicians’ experience more fully,” said competition founder Donatella Flick. “It may prove more nerve-racking for the wonderfully talented finalists, but it is also something that is becoming more and more commonplace, so it is important that it is reflected here.”
In addition to the cash prize, the winner also becomes LS assistant conductor for at least one year, where they will work alongside Simon Rattle, Gianandrea Noseda, Michael Tilson Thomas and François-Xavier Roth. Roth won the competition in 2000 and is now LSO’s principal guest conductor.
The judging panel is made up of conductors Antonio Pappano, Sian Edwards, Tadaaki Otaka, Roth and Yan Pascal Tortelier as well as violinists Vadim Repin and Lennox Mackenzie and LSO principal Cor Anglais Christine Pendrill.
The final will hosted by Gramophone editor-in-chief James Jolly.