APPLICATIONS OPEN NOV 1st 2021
for the 37th Annual Irving M. Klein International String Competition
June 4 – 5, 2022, San Francisco California
Applications open online November 1, 2021 for The Irving M. Klein International String Competition, produced by the California Music Center. In 2022 the Klein plans to return to in-person competition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music June 4-5, 2022. At this year’s Klein Competition, From the Top will be in residence recording a documentary style portrait of the competition for their weekly NPR series. Co-hosted by Klein Competition Mentor, Tessa Lark and From the Top host, pianist Peter Dugan, the resulting program will feature performances from the competition as well as interviews and field recordings featuring competitors, the Klein team, jury, and more.
Violinists, violists, cellists and bassists ages 15 to 23 at the time of the Competition of any nationality not currently under professional management are eligible to compete. Applications to be received by midnight Saturday, February 5, 2022. For more details on prizes, repertoire and how to submit an online application, visit californiamusiccenter.org.
For 36 years, the Klein has attracted some of the world’s finest young string players to San Francisco each June to compete for cash and performance prizes. The Klein Competition has achieved international recognition as one of the most prestigious classical music competitions, recognized for the high caliber of the contestants; its unique, nurturing environment; and its commitment to the commissioning of new works. 1987 Klein prizewinner Gloria Justen will compose the Commissioned Works for the 2022 Klein Competition.
The competition is named for the late cellist and master teacher who devoted himself untiringly to the development of young artists. Its award carries the distinction that has helped many top soloists gain prominence in the competitive world of classical music, including Jennifer Koh, Mark Kosower, Vadim Gluzman, Jennifer Frautschi, Alban Gerhardt, Frank Huang and Robert deMaine; Teng Li, Oliver Herbert, David Requiro, Tessa Lark and Nikki Chooi; and principal chairs in many of the finest U.S. orchestras, including the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, the New York and LA Philharmonics, and the Boston Symphony.
Violist Yuchen Lu won 2021’s First Prize. He is studying for a masters with Carol Rodland at the Juilliard School. Violinist Grace Huh placed second, and cellist Willian Tan won Third Prize. #KleinOnline2021 can be viewed on CMC’s YouTube channel.
The distinguished jury includes Richard Aaron, professor of cello at the University of Michigan, The Juilliard School and The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings; this year’s commissioned composer, Gloria Justen; violinist Ian Swensen, Chair of Violin at San Francisco Conservatory’s String Department; and Barbara Day Turner, Music Director of San José Chamber Orchestra. Additional jury members will be announced soon.
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA MUSIC CENTER
CMC was founded in 1974 by Irving M. Klein, a virtuoso chamber musician and master cello teacher, as the sponsoring organization for a summer music institute and chamber music series for young artists. Following Mr. Klein’s passing in 1985, CMC inaugurated the Irving M. Klein International String Competition (“the Klein”) in 1986; since then, the Klein has become one of the most prestigious events of its kind, attracting ever-increasing numbers of entries annually from throughout the world and helping to enhance the developing careers of players who have gone on to become renowned soloists, chamber musicians, teachers, and prominent members of the world’s finest orchestras. Learn more: californiamusiccenter.org.
ABOUT THE COMPOSER GLORIA JUSTEN
Gloria Justen is a composer, violinist and violist who is known for her dynamic, emotionally-charged performances. Her principal teachers were Fredell Lack in Houston, Texas, and Szymon Goldberg at the Curtis Institute of Music. She has performed and toured as a violinist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The San Francisco Symphony, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and The Philip Glass Ensemble, and she has performed works by many contemporary composers as a soloist and chamber musician. As a composer, Gloria has released two recordings of original compositions, and her music has been performed by soloists and chamber orchestras in the United States and Europe. She has also been a recording session violinist for many pop music stars. Gloria enjoys collaborating with other musicians, modern dancers, storytellers, poets, and visual artists. One recent commission for violinist Francesca DePasquale (First Prize, Klein 2010), a multimedia piece titled On the Blue Shore of Silence, premiered in Philadelphia in May of 2021. Gloria was a first prizewinner for the 1987 Klein Competition. ###
