Rembrandt Chamber Players (RCP) will sponsor its 15th Annual Competition for high school chamber ensembles on Sunday, January 31st, 2010, at Northeastern University, 3701 West Bryn Mawr in Chicago at 10:30 AM. The competition features fifteen or more groups of string, wind and brass players and demonstrates RCP’s strong commitment to encouraging young musical talent throughout the Midwest region.
Bringing Chamber Music to a Broader 21st Century Audience
The January event is open to the public free of charge and young people and their families are invited to train their eyes and ears to enjoy the stars of the future! Attending the Competition is also a musical educational experience for the audience. Attendees will be given an explanation of criteria on which contestants are judged to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the artistry, teamwork and interpretive skills involved in producing quality classical chamber music. RCP will sponsor a special drawing at the end of the competition. The winner can invite the top scoring musicians to perform at an event in the venue of their choice such as their local school or public library.
Performance Opportunities for Competition Winners
Winners are designated Rembrandt Young Artists (RYA), a yearlong program in which they will be invited to play in Rembrandt’s February concerts as well as being the featured artists in other venues throughout the Chicago area during the year following the competition. RYA winners are also awarded free coaching by RCP musicians and tickets to the Rembrandt concert series. RCP would like to hear from libraries, community centers, art galleries, churches and synagogues, museums, senior centers, schools, park districts, and corporations or non-profit organizations who can provide future venues for programs to showcase the highly talented high school ensemble winners of the Rembrandt Annual Chamber Music Competitions.
Recognition of Past Winners
Recent winners will attend this year’s competition to present the awards to the winners and to share their experiences and successes as RYA protégées of the Rembrandt Chamber Players. Past RYA winners have gone on to win other important competitions and many have outstanding careers as members of prestigious orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the USA including the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Rembrandt is seeking additional information regarding the musical careers of winners of the past 15 years and welcomes correspondence directed to rembrandtchamberplayers.org. Rembrandt also needs an intern to assist in developing a data base of former winners as well as coordinating the selection of Chicago area venues for RYA concerts.
