Primrose International Viola Competition

Welcome to the Thirteenth Primrose International Viola Competition! Over the last 32 years, the PIVC has established itself as one of the premiere instrumental competitions. We received a record number of entries in 2011 -- up nineteen percent from 2008. This year’s Quarterfinalists represent the countries of Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.
Through a newly implemented blind DVD screening process, the PIVC is proud to invite our accomplished Quarterfinalists to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the past all participants were invited to live preliminary rounds. However, due to the increasing popularity of the Competition participants only had a few minutes to play rather than the half hour they are now allotted. Therefore, it was decided that the Competition select thirty entries in order to spend more time with the quarterfinalists invited to the Competition during the week.

This year, in an effort to demystify the deliberation process and provide greater transparency, we are implementing a new judging system unique to any other international music competitions in which all rounds have instant scoring from the Jury. Jurors vote between one and ten after each performance, then a random seven of the nine scores are averaged and posted. The top competitors pass on to the following round. In the case of a tie the highest omitted score is averaged into the existing score, and in the case of yet another tie the other score is added. If, at that point, a tie remains the jury votes on the tie by ballot.

In addition to live scoring, the Semifinal Recital Round features a world premiere by composer Peter Askim and a new chamber music requirement, in which the eight Semifinalists perform the first movement of the Divertimento by Mozart. The Final Round consists of a classical concerto performance with the New Mexico Chamber Orchestra, supported by the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and members of the New Mexico Symphony.
By featuring a wide range of standard repertoire, virtuosic Primrose transcriptions, chamber music performances, and a solo appearance with orchestra, the Competition pays homage to the various facets of William Primrose’s illustrious career. All rounds remain open to the public, exposing audiences and enthusiasts to first-rate performances in person and online. The competition continues bring first-rate national and international jurors and artists from around the globe.

The PIVC received an unprecedented amount of support this year. I am grateful to the participants, jurors, committee members, sponsors, and volunteers who have made this event possible. I look forward to brilliant performances by the participants and the opportunity to promote Primrose’s vision of furthering the artistic excellence of violists worldwide. Thank you for sharing your passion for music with us, I hope this will be a worldwide. May this be a memorable event that will remain a positive facet of your life for many years to come!

My sincere best wishes and compliments,

Nokuthula Ngwenyama
Director, Primrose International Viola Competition
First Place, 1993
President-Elect, American Viola Society

The competition is eligible to anyone who has not reached their 30th birthday by June 6, 2011.

Prizes are as follows:

First prize: $5,000 USD, viola by Spanish luthier Jardón Rico, gold-mounted bow from Arcos Brasil, select appearances in the USA and Europe

Second Prize: $3,000 USD and a silver-mounted Arcos Brasil bow

Third Prize: $1,000 USD and a nickel-mounted Arcos Brasil bow

Additional Prizes:

Concerto Prize: Best Performance of 20th – Century Concerto

Crouch & Company Prize: Best Performance of the commissioned work, Inner Visions, by Peter Askim

Linnet Press Editions Prize: Best Performance of a Bach work

Mozart Prize: Best Performance of the Mozart Divertimento

Primrose Prize: Best Performance of a Primrose transcription

Sonata Prize: Best Performance of a Sonata

Awards and Certificates:

Robertson Award

Tone Award

Honorable Mention