The Canadian Music Centre in BC was pleased to host the inaugural press launch for the new 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition (VIMC) earlier this month on Tuesday, June 27 at 11am. Organized by the Canada International Arts & Music Society (CIAMS), the VIMC was announced as a multinational classical music competition for piano, strings, and voice. Celebrating Canada’s 150th Anniversary, the VIMC aims to promote Canadian classical music worldwide by establishing prizes for performing Canadian classical compositions. Lynn Liu, President of CIAMS and 2017 VIMC, Sean Bickerton, BC Director of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), and Keiko Alexander, VIMC Artistic Advisor, and a member of the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, spoke about the need for the competition.
VIMC Jurors and Sponsors
Liu explained that: “Vancouver is a world‐renowned city and deserves an international music competition of its own.” Alexander, a VIMC Artistic Advisor, flew in from Chicago to show her support for the event saying, “What Lynn has done so far is impressive. I didn’t think she could put so much together so quickly. I’m excited to be a part of this event.”
Bickerton, also joining the competition as a jury member, gave a speech and explained why the CMC is a supportive partner of the VIMC: “CMC BC is supporting this competition because they share our values and our mission to champion Canadian music, and we are very gratified that VIMC has placed Canadian music at the heart of the competition.”
Liu stated that: “Our committee members are leaders in the musical community, concert organizers, and music educators. We hope that the successful holding of this event will pave the way for future Vancouver international music competitions with our event growing in importance as the years go by, leaving a lasting cultural legacy for the city of Vancouver as well as the province.” VIMC committee member, guitarist Jacob Seyer, noted that the competition will take place over a span of four months and consist of thirty events. The competition is expecting contestants from all over the world.
Jury Member Corey Hamm being interviewed about 2017 VIMC
Later in the press conference, Corey Hamm, a pianist and a music professor at UBC played a piece entitled “Corybantic” by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra composer in residence Jocelyn Morlock. Another VIMC jury member, violinist and UBC Professor Emeritus Andrew Dawes also gave a speech. Graham Blank, the Vice President of Tom Lee Music, a sponsor for the VIMC, spoke positively of the competition committee’s efforts to hold an international music competition at the press conference. It was also announced that the final round of the VIMC will be held at UBC’s Roy Barnett Recital Hall on October 6th & 7th, 2017. A concluding gala concert featuring winners of the competition will take place on October 8th, 2017 at the world‐renowned Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Winners in each instrumental category will be awarded a Platinum Prize worth $1,500. More details about the competition can be found on the VIMC website: https://vancouvercompetition.com
About the 2017 VIMC
The VIMC is supported by sponsors including Tom Lee Music, Shiyun Financial group, Vancouver Chinese Culture & Arts Foundation, and other private sponsors. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, Member of Legislative Assembly Teresa Wat, Member of Parliament Alice Wong, CEO of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Jeff Alexander, and BC director of the CMC Sean Bickerton have sent greeting letters for the event. Other artistic advisors for the VIMC will include Daniel Bolshoy, Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar at the University of British Columbia, Rosa Hong, head of the piano faculty at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, Kathy Nordmeyer, pianist and Director of Project Management at Heartland School Solutions, and Tomislav Nedelkovic‐Baynov, Professor of piano at the National Music Academy in Trossingen, Germany.