Janis Zabers III International Vocal Competition is announced

The Jānis Zābers I International Vocal Competition was held In September 2019, but the second competition was postponed from 2021 to 2022 due to the Covid regime. This year, the organizers of the competition announce the Jānis Zābers III International Vocal Competition, which will take place from September 13 to 17, 2023, in Riga, at the VEF Culture Palace. Students and graduates of music schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities of music from different countries between the ages of 10 and 35 can apply for it until August 31. In addition, the rules of the competition provide that students who study vocal art in private schools or privately with specialists in the vocal field can also be represented in it.

In previous competitions, Tanja Ruždjak from Croatia (first place and Grand Prix), Adam Nádler from Slovakia, Inna Safronova from Russia, Daniils Kuzmins from Latvia (second place), as well as music school students Silvars Malcenieks and Etīna Emīlija Saulīte from Valmiera ( third place).

In the composition of the jury, alongside the world-renowned Latvian opera singer Inga Kalna, musical theater actor, director, vocal pedagogue Edgars Kramiņš and others, the American opera singer, prof. Claudia Visca, who is known as a teacher and advisor to many soloists of the Vienna State Opera.

Jānis Zāber’s vocal legacy is so wide and diverse that it allows every singer to put forward the need to emulate him and realize that a truly successful singer is able to demonstrate his vocal skills in a wide variety of musical genres and styles. Therefore, the contestants have been given the task of playing the vocal music that our great compatriot once sang – folk songs in acapella performance, in order to assess the contestants’ auditory quality components, opera and chamber music, pop songs and children’s songs by Arvīds Žilinskis, as well as Neapolitan songs. Therefore, the musical material of the competition is not only sufficiently wide and complex for the participants, but also interestingly versatile for the listeners.

“This is a unique competition, because no competition for vocalists in Latvia is based on the principle of succession, from the moment when the basics of vocal art are learned until the age when the vocal studies have already been completed, thus raising and forging a quality generation of young vocalists and supporting the academic foundation of the vocal school the need,” emphasizes Edgars Kramiņš, artistic director of the competition.

 

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Janis Zabers II International Vocal Competition is closed

The Jānis Zābers II International Vocalist Competition, which was opened on September 13, was closed at the VEF Culture Palace on September 17, 2022 at 12:30 pm. Vocalists from eight different countries aged between 13 and 34 applied in three different categories:

  • students of children’s music schools,
  • high school, college and music university students,
  • graduate singers.

The jury of the competition, consisting of Irina Gavrilovici, Inga Kalna, Ieva Parša, Normunds Vaicis and Edgars Kramiņš, nominated nine participants for the final of the competition, and each performance was special.

13-year-old Germans Miroņenko from Babīte Music School was nominated as the youngest participant of the competition. On the other hand, Inna Safronova from Russia received a diploma for “Best performance of a Latvian song by a foreign participant”, Adam Nádler from Slovakia received a diploma for “Best vocal chamber music performance”, and Ella Elīza Viļumsone from Latvia received a diploma for “Best performance of children’s songs by Arvīds Žilinskis”.

Although the jury did not award the first place this year, the second place was shared by Inna Safronova from Russia and Adam Nádler from Slovakia, while the third place was won by Etīna Emīlija Saulīte, a student of the Vocal Academy from Latvia.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Jānis Zābers III International Vocal Competition from September 13 to 17, 2023!

 

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The Janis Zabers International Vocal competition is postponed

Due to the Covid situation in the world, more than 50% of the contestants have been denied the opportunity to participate in the Janis Zabers II International Vocal Competition this year. However, “taking into account that two years ago this competition became an artistically significant and high-value event in the minting of young vocalists not only in Latvia, but also in neighboring countries, such a serious remote competition is not allowed,” said the artistic director, musical theater actor, director and vocal teacher, Dr.paed. Edgars Kramiņš.

Therefore, the Janis Zabers II International Vocal Competition is postponed from September 2021 to September 2022, without changing the venue and the composition of the jury.

The documentation submitted by all participants so far and the age groups applied by the contestants remain the same, but to get acquainted with the amendments of regulations will be available starting from September 15, 2021. Thus, students and graduates of music schools, secondary schools, colleges, music universities from 10 to 35 years of age from different countries can still apply until July 31. In addition, the competition regulations stipulate that students studying vocal art in private schools or privately with vocal specialists may also be represented.

10.09.2021.

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Janis Zabers II International Vocal Competition is announced

“A strong generation of vocalists must be formed from an early age, but a serious vocal competition is a good start to think about the problems of this type of art as widely as possible, bringing together guests from near and far. International experience always pushes the boundaries of culture. Therefore, it is an opportunity for singers to look at their daily work from a different point of view,” the idea of ​​the international vocal competition at a press conference explained musical theater actor, director and vocal educator Dr.paed Edgars Kramiņš.

The Janis Zabers I International Vocal Competition was a big event two years ago, because international vocal art competitions, in which high quality criteria are set, take place very rarely in Latvia and also in neighboring countries.

The Janis Zabers II  International Vocal Competition will take place in three rounds from September 16 till 20 this year in Riga, VEF Culture Palace. Students and graduates of music schools, secondary schools, colleges and music universities from 10 to 35 years of age from different countries are invited to apply by 31 August. However, we assume that students who study vocal art in private schools or privately with vocal specialists will also be represented.

This year, the jury will also be joined by profesor Irina Gavrilovici from Vienna, who is known in Latvia as a teacher and advisor to Elīna Garanča, Inga Kalna, Egīls Siliņš and many other famous singers.

“This is a unique competition, because no vocalist competition in Latvia is based on the principle of succession, from the moment when the basics of vocal art are mastered to the age when vocal studies have been completed, thus raising and forging a quality new generation of vocalists and supporting the necessity of the academic basics at vocal schools,” emphasizes the artistic director of the competition Edgars Kramiņš.

 

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Janis Zabers I International Vocal Competition is closed

October 1, 2019 at 12 30 pm Jānis Zābers I International Vocal Competition closed at VEF Culture Palace with a press conference. It was attended by vocalists from different countries aged 10 to 34 in three different categories:

  • students of children’s music schools,
  • high school, college and music students,
  • graduate singers.

The competition jury, consisting of Klaudia Visca, Inga Kalna, Ieva Parša, Juris Griņēvičs and Edgars Kramiņš, nominated nine participants for the competition final. The competition was fierce and each performance was special. Annaliis Telgmaa from Estonia received a diploma for “Best Latvian Song Performance by a Foreign Participant”, Alise Kristiāna Sebre from Latvia received a diploma for “Best Children’s Song Performance by Arvīds Žilinska”, but the first place was won by Croatian singer Tanja Ruždjak. Daniils Kuzmins, a student of the Jāzeps Vītols Academy of Music, is in second place, and Silvars Malcenieks, a student of Valmiera Music School, is in third place. Both from Latvia. In turn, pianist Jānis Karpovičs won recognition as “The Best Pianist of the Competition”.

At the press conference, media representatives were introduced to the achievements, results of the competition, the jury, the repertoire of competitors and the musical performances of the winners.

See you at the Jānis Zābers II International Vocal Competition in September 2021!

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Janis Zabers I International Vocal Competition is announced

Announcing the three-year anniversary of educational institution Vocal Academy, an application for the Jānis Zabers International Vocal Competition is announced. Competition will take place from September 28 to October 4 in three rounds with a highly competent jury evaluating the performances of the contestants.  Students and graduates aged 10 to 35 years are invited to take part in the competition.

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