Earlier today, the Cleveland Orchestra announced it will perform at the closing gala concert of the 2014 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, hosted by the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin.
Thanks to a generous donation from Robert F. Smith, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, the Cleveland Orchestra will perform in Austin for the first time since 1976. Their concert at Bates Recital Hall will conclude the 10-day violin festival and competition, scheduled for February 21 to March 2, 2014.
Gordon Back, artistic director of the Menuhin Competition says, "We are thrilled to have the Cleveland, a world-class orchestra, as part of the festivities for the 2014 competition. Performing with the Cleveland Orchestra will be an amazing opportunity for our prize winners and an inspiration for all our young musicians."
The Menuhin Competition's nine-member jury is composed of some of the top musicians in the international music community. This year, each member will perform a concert and give a public master class in Austin. The panel for the 2014 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinist is comprised of the following persons:
Pamela Frank, chairwoman (U.S.); Joji Hattori, vice chair (Japan); Olivier Charlier (France); Ilya Gringolts (Russia); David Kim (U.S.); Lü Siqing (China); Arabella Steinbacher (Germany); and the Butler School of Music's own Anton Nel (South Africa/U.S.) and Brian Lewis (U.S.).
Glenn Richter, interim director of the University of Texas at Austin's Butler School of Music, says the Menuhin Competition will increase Austin's already rich standing as a classical music destination.
"You may think of Austin as the home of South by Southwest, Austin City Limits or even the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix race. Thanks to UT's College of Fine Arts, Texas Performing Arts, the Long Center, the Austin Symphony and the Butler School of Music, Austin is also a hub of innovation and excellence in the fine arts and classical music," Richter says.
