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Doris McLellan Competition
 It seems like no time at all since the WMC announced the inaugural Doris McLellan Competition for Solo Performance with the WSO, 2006. We are now gearing up to present this fantastic opportunity for the third time in 2010. The semi- final auditions will be March 27, 2010 at the Art Gallery and the Finals Friday, April 16, 2010. The venue TBA.
We will be inviting applications from young Manitoba Musicians in all musical disciplines to compete for 3 prizes totalling $20,000., and a Concert with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra to boot.
The endowment from the estate of the late Doris McLellan provides the prizes, $10,000 for the first place winner, $6,000, and $4,000, for second and third. This is the largest musical prize awarded in Manitoba to date. The Concert with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is added icing on the cake.
Winnipeg is known across Canada as a Centre of Culture. Women’s Musical Club has taken this opportunity to light up the stage for young Manitoba musicians determined to pursue a performance career, and to enhance our reputation for Culture by putting Winnipeg on the Competition map.
The Doris McLellan Competition for Solo Performance with the WSO 2008 was a great success.
Sarah Halmarson First Place winter of $10,000 in 2008
The 2008 Competition was sponsored by:
The Winnipeg FoundationThe Winnipeg Arts Council
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Steinbach Credit Union Long & McQuade
St. John’s MusicCopy Cat Design
In addition there were private donations totalling $10,000 in support of the Competition.Applications were received by the end of December, 2007. CD’s were sent to adjudicators and 12 contestants were chosen to perform in a live audition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, April 12. The 12 semi-finalists were:
Catherine Daniel, mezzo-soprano
Jeffrey Dyrda, violin
Andrew Erickson. classical guitar
Sarah Halmarson, soprano
Everett Hopfner, piano
Garrett Hudson, flute
Cassandra Lapsley, flute
Caroline Nicolas, cello
Sean Taubner, cello
Ellen Wieser, soprano
Brenda Whaley, mezzo-soprano
Nina Zhou, piano
There was an audience of approximately 90 interested music lovers who enthusiastically enjoyed the auditions as a day long concert.
The three adjudicators were: Valdine Anderson, Mark Rudoff, and Dale Lonis, Executive Director of the WSO, standing in for Rei Hotoda. (Rei was called upon to conduct that evening in case the Mickelthwaite baby decided to make an appearance.) After deliberations the 3 Finalists chosen were:
Jeffrey Dyrda, violin, Sarah Halmarson, soprano, and Garrett Hudson, flute.
Our three finalists gave stunning performances with the WSO, under the baton of Rei Hotoda, on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Jubilee Place Auditorium of MBCI. A rehearsal took place in the morning, and the concert was at 7:30 in the evening. The adjudicators on this occasion were:
John Greer, James Manishen, and Eric Wilson.
John Greer, a former Winnipeg resident, is Director of Opera Studies at the New England Conservatory, and was also an adjudicator in 2006.
James Manishen resides here in Winnipeg and is Artistic Resource for the WSO.
Eric Wilson, a member of the musical Wilson family of Winnipeg, is currently Head Professor of Cello at UBC.
Holly Harris acted as Jury Chair for both the semi-finals and the finals.
John Greer, Holly Harris, Eric Wilson, James Manishen
The Final Concert with the WSO was attended by approximately 250 people for a small admission price of $10.00 After the Concert while the jury was deliberating the audience was briefly entertained by a video presentation explaining the activities of the Women’s Musical Club and information about the benefactor, Doris McLellan. There was also a draw for 2 tickets to the Final WSO Concert of the season and a chance for a pair of season tickets to the Women’s Musical Club concert season 2009-10.
Holly Harris, jury chair announced the ranking of the winners.
Sarah Halmarson, soprano was presented with a first place cheque for $10,000.
Jeffrey Dyrda was presented with a cheque for second place cheque of $6,000.
Garrett Hudson was presented with a cheque for $4,000.
All 3 winners and convenor Carol Gamby were presented with bouquets of flowers.
A brief reception was held in the lobby to congratulate the winners.
Jeffrey Dyrda, Garrett Hudson, Sarah Halmarson
Carol Gamby
Competition Chair
Questions or comments should be directed to
doris@womensmusicalclubofwpg.ca
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