IV International Uuno Klami Composition Competition Gets Underway
The International Uuno Klami Composition Competition, now one of the world’s foremost composition competitions, is being held for the fourth time in 2018–2019. The Jury will be Finland’s Kalevi Aho and Magnus Lindberg and Estonia’s Erkki-Sven Tüür, three of the greatest composers and most influential musical figures of their generation. The conductor member of the Jury will be Olari Elts (Estonia), Artistic Advisor of the Kymi Sinfonietta.
The competition is open to citizens of any EU Member State, of a Nordic country, or of Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine or the Vatican City State (proof of permanent right of residence also accepted). There is no age limit. Works entered for the competition must not have been previously published or performed and must last 15–30 minutes. They must be sent to the Competition Office postmarked not later than December 3, 2018. The following prizes will be awarded: I prize €11,000, II prize €9,000 and III prize €7,000. The Jury may, if it wishes, divide the prizes in some other way.
In early spring 2019 the Jury will select at least three but not more than five of the anonymous entries for the finals. These will be performed at concerts in Kouvola and Kotka in the autumn season 2019 by the Kymi Sinfonietta, one of the finest Finnish orchestras. The Jury chooses the winners only after hearing the finals concerts and their rehearsals. The composers of these entries will be invited to be closely involved in the rehearsing of their works and thus to acquire valuable international contacts and networks that may have far-reaching consequences for their future careers. For many composers, success in the Klami Competition has indeed meant a decisive boost in their careers.
As composer Kalevi Aho, Chairman of the Jury as of the previous International Uuno Klami Composition Competitions, reports: “The Uuno Klami is the most important Finnish composition competition and one of the greatest of its kind in Europe. The most challenging stage for the Jury is selecting the finalists, since the standard has been extremely high throughout and the competition has attracted a remarkably large number of entries.”
The International Uuno Klami Composition Competition has attracted an astounding number of entries: 117 from 23 countries the first time it was held, 186 from 27 countries the second time, and no fewer than 265 from 37 countries on the third occasion. This clearly indicates an obvious demand for a professional competition for international composers. The competition’s aim is to enrich and diversify the repertoire scored specifically for an orchestra of sinfonietta size and to discover and promote contemporary European music and composition under the name of Uuno Klami (1900–1961). The competition is organised by a Patrons’ Association.
