OFUNAM International Conducting Competition

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, through the Department of Cultural Affairs, in order to encourage the professionalization of young conductors who are developing an international career, promotes the first edition of the OFUNAM International Conducting Competition, 2018, with the participation of an internationally renowned jury.

The jury is composed of Massimo Quarta, conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the National Autonomous University of México (OFUNAM), as President of the Jury; Atso Almila, student of Jorma Panula at the Sibelius Academy and one of the greatest professors of Orchestral Education of today; Joseph Caballé Domenech, General Director (GMD) of the Opera and Staatskapelle de Halle-Saale; Claire Gibault, the first woman to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic, and Jorge Mester, artistic director of the Boca del Río Philharmonic. .

This competition is inspired by the Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition, organized by Instrumenta Oaxaca and the National Autonomous University of México. The OFUNAM was the Resident Orchestra of the competition during the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 editions.

The mission of the OFUNAM International Conducting Competition, with a biannual format, is to strengthen and boost the artistic formation of the participants, as well as to promote the music of Mexican composers in the world.

PRIZES

The jury will award three prizes:

First prize

USD 6,000 (six thousand dollars), as well as invitations to conduct a concert with each of the following orchestras* during the 2019-2021 seasons:

Mexico

Aguascalientes Symphonic Orchestra
Boca del Río Philharmonic Orchestra
School Orchestra Carlos Chávez
Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco
Philharmonic Orchestra of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Philharmonic Orchestra of the State of Querétaro
Philharmonic Orchestra 5 de mayo
Philharmonic Orchestra of Zacatecas
Symphony Orchestra of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo
Symphony Orchestra of the Universidad de Guanajuato
Michoacán Symphony Orchestra
Minería Symphony Orchestra
Oaxaca Symphony Orchestra
San Luis Potosí Symphony Orchestra
Xalapa Symphony Orchestra
Yucatan Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional
National Symphony Orchestra
Eduardo Mata University Youth Orchestra

Colombia

Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra

* These are the associated orchestras confirmed at the moment. The total amount will be published after closing the call on the website www.cultura.unam.mx/premiofunam

Second Prize

USD 3,000 (three thousand dollars)

Third prize

USD 1,500 (one thousand, five hundred dollars)

Winners

Rodolfo Barráez Medina
First Place

Jiajing Lai
Second Place

François López-Ferrer
Third Place

JURY

Massimo
Quarta

President

Josep
Caballé Domenech

Atso
Almila

Claire
Gibault

Jorge
Mester

SOLOIST

Erika Dobosiewicz

Finalists Biographies

Carlos Ágreda Arango

Carlos Ágreda is Assistant Conductor at the Curtis Institute of Music. He obtained his Master of Music in Performance Conducting with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music. He has conducted symphony orchestras in the USA, UK, Latin America and Europe.

Rodolfo Barráez Medina

Rodolfo Barráez is Traveling Conductor of the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela and is a regular guest conductor of several Venezuelan Orchestras. He was one of the 14 conductors selected at "The Mahler Competition" in 2016. He is currently coursing postgraduate studies in conduction at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin.

Jiannan Cheng

Jiannan Cheng is currently Conducting Fellow for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She got her PhD in Orchestral Conducting from the Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. She participated in the German Conductors’ Award in Cologne, Germany.

Jiajing Lai

Jiajing Lai is Assistant Conductor-Finalist of New World Symphony. She has worked as conductor and opera coach with several orchestras in China and Europe. She has been finalist in several conducting competitions. She has participated in master classes with several internationally renowned conductors.

Jing Zhan Li

Jing Zhan Li studied conduction at the Central Conservatory of Music. He was selected for the 14th Berlin International Conducting Master Class, the only Chinese among the finalists. He was awarded second prize in the Riga World Choir Games. He has conducted, orchestras, choirs and operas in several theaters in China and Europe.

Boon Hua Lien

Boon Hua Lien is Assistant Conductor at the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. He is currently coursing his PhD in Orchestral Conducting at the Eastman School of Music from the University of Rochester. He has conducted symphony orchestras in USA, Poland and Singapore.

François López-Ferrer

François López-Ferrer is Associate Conductor of the Chile National Symphony. He has conducted important orchestras including the Tonhalle Orchestra and the Hamburg Symphony. He got his MA in conducting from the Haute École de Musique in Lausanne. In 2015 he won the Neeme Järvi award at the Menuhim Gstaad Festival.

Ilya Ram

Ilya Ram is Assistant Conductor of the Sächsisches Landesgymnasium für Musik Orchestra as well as assistant to Maestro Guillermo Garcia Calvo with the Robert-Schumann Philharmonie. He is pursuing his MA in Orchestral Conducting at the Hochschule für Musik “Carl Maria von Weber”. He was a semi-finalist of the 1st Maestro Solti International Conducting Competition.

Jonathan Spandorf

Jonathan Spandorf is Assistant Conductor for the IU Chamber Orchestra. He has participated as guest conductor with several American and European orchestras. He has participated in numerous master classes with renowned conductors. He is constantly active as teacher and arranger.

Jorge Vázquez Melgarejo

Jorge Vázquez is currently Assistant Conductor for the Polish National Opera and Artistic Director of the Project Chamber Orchestra in NY. He has been awarded 1st prize in several international competitions. He has been an active conductor in America, Europe and Mexico.

Dean Whiteside

Dean Whiteside is Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony and the Nashville Sinfonietta. He has been guest conductor for several orchestras in USA and Europe. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Conducting Scholarship in 2017. He has a Bachelor degree in Viola Performance and philosophy and a M.A in Orchestral Conducting, both with honors.

COMPETITION

Competition rounds. From September 17th to 23rd, 2018

The contest will consist of three rounds: Preliminary, Semifinal and Final, to be held in Mexico City.

Preliminary Round. Up to 12 participants will be selected.
Semifinal Round. Up to 6 contestants for the Semifinal.
Final Round. Up to 3 contestants for the Final.

The rounds of the competition will take place from September 17th to 23rd, 2018, with the following schedule:

Round 1. Preliminary. Monday 17th (first day)
Four contestants will work with the orchestra for 35 minutes each.
Round 1. Preliminary. Tuesday 18th (second day)
Four contestants will work with the orchestra for 35 minutes.
Round 1. Preliminary. Wednesday 19th (third day)
Four contestants will work with the orchestra for 35 minutes.

After the third day of the Preliminary Round, the jury will select a maximum of 6 participants for the Semifinal Round.

Round 2. Semifinal. Thursday 20th (first day)
Three contestants will work with the orchestra for 50 minutes. The participant will decide the time
to be allotted to each of the two works to be performed. (Obligatory work and a concert movement
with a soloist chosen by participant)
Round 2. Semifinal. Friday 21st (second day)
Three contestants will work with the orchestra for 50 minutes. The participant will decide the time
to be allotted to each of the two works to be performed. (Obligatory work and a concert movement
with a soloist chosen by participant)

Upon completion of the Semifinal Round, the jury will select a maximum of three participants for the Final Round.

Round 3. Final. Saturday 22nd
Orchestra rehearsal with the three finalists. Each of them will have a maximum of 50 minutes.
The participant will decide the time to be allotted to each of the two works to be performed. The works
to be interpreted will be one obligatory work and one symphony movement to be selected by draw.

The order of performance in the rehearsal will be:

Round 3. Final. Sunday 23rd
Concert with the three finalists.

The order of performance in the concert will be:

Deliberation and awards

Audience and recording of the competition
All rounds and the Final Round concert will be open to the public and may be recorded, filmed and
broadcast on radio, television and/or streaming, without any economic compensation for the participants.

COMPETITION RESIDENT ORCHESTRA

The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (OFUNAM) is the resident orchestra of the OFUNAM International Conducting Competition.

REPERTOIRE

Round 1. Preliminary
For this round, participants must conduct two works, one at the participant's choice and one to be selected by draw.
To be selected by participant:

Overtures:

• Beethoven: Egmont

(Le Carnaval Romain)

(Zauberflöte)

(Il barbiere di Siviglia)

(Die Fledermaus)

(La forza del destino)

Symphonies by draw (only first movement):

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, Op. 67, C minor

• Haydn: Symphony No. 101 D major, "The Clock"

• Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, Op. 90, A Major "Italian"

• Mozart: Symphony No. 40, K 550, G minor

• Schubert: Symphony No. 4, D. 417, C minor "Tragic"

• Schumann: Symphony No. 3, Op. 97, E flat major "Renana"

Round 2. Semifinal
In this round, participants must conduct two works, one obligatory and one (work with soloist)
To be selected by participant.

Obligatory work:

• Chávez: Symphony No. 2 “India”

Solo works to be chosen by participant (first movement only):

• Beethoven: Violin Concerto Op. 61, D Major

• Brahms: Violin Concerto Op. 77, D Major

• Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5, K 219, A Major "Turkish"

• Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op. 35, TH 59, D Major

Round 3. Final:
In this round, participants must conduct two works, one obligatory and one to be selected by draw.