Solti Foundation Awards 2012
The names of the 2012 Solti Foundation award winners have just been announced. More information to follow.
October 2011
Jessica Strong Canada, soprano, 2011
Jessica received funding to attend the 2011 Aspen Music Festival as a member of the Aspen Opera Theatre Center. She writes to express her thanks to the Solti Foundation:
“Your support allowed me to experience a summer that I will remember as one of the highlights of my life. The ability to make music, both for work and pleasure, is a blessing that I am thankful for every day. I am truly fortunate to have spent two months working solely on the refinement of my craft. It seemed an added bonus that these two months happened to be filled with wonderful lessons and coaching from esteemed musical professionals, plentiful opportunities to perform and the creation of new friendships with teachers and colleagues alike... I am so thankful for organisations such as The Solti Foundation, which make it their personal mandate to support young musicians. As an emerging professional, financial assistance is essential to continue my involvement in musical opportunities that would otherwise be unattainable. My participation in the Aspen Music Festival has been invaluable to my vocal development and the overall trajectory of my career. Thank you for your generosity and support, and for allowing individuals such as myself to continue reaching for my dreams.”
September 2011
Anamaria Vaduva Romania, piano, 2011
2011 award winner Anamaria Vaduva has won first prize in the 11th Vienna International Piano Competition. She also won a prize for the best interpretation of a Schubert sonata and was awarded a solo performance in Vienna in August 2012. Expressing her thanks for the support received from the Solti Foundation, Anamaria says: “I want to deeply thank you for your kindness in helping me. As you can imagine, without you I would not have been able to participate in this Competition. It was an intense period of ten days with three stages, the last one including a Mozart concerto accompanied by a prestigious Viennese string quartet… It is a real privilege to be part of your organization… I send you my deepest gratitude for your invaluable help and I congratulate you for existing and making the dreams of young talents come true.”
July 2011
Anna Stokes Great Britain, flute, 2006
Anna received funding in 2006 to attend masterclasses with Sir James Galway in Switzerland. She writes to tell us that: “Since receiving the award from the Solti Foundation I have been involved in numerous exciting orchestral, chamber and solo projects. Sir James has continued to support my playing since I went to Switzerland in 2006 and I am extremely grateful that you allowed me this opportunity through your funding to attend the masterclass. On 25 July 2011, I released my debut CD of solo and chamber works with the Emanuel Ensemble (Anna Stokes, Louisa Tuck & John Reid - flute, cello and piano). The CD includes works by Kapustin, Gaubert, Schumann, Borne, Farrenc and Piazzolla”.
For more information, see www.annastokes.com or www.emanuelensemble.co.uk
Daniel Palmizio Italy, viola, 2011
Daniel was awarded funding to participate in the 2011 Primrose International Viola Competition in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He writes: “to participate in this prestigious Competition was an honour. The preliminary rounds were screened in January and from hundreds of DVDs I was one of the 30 competitors chosen to compete in Albuquerque. This unique opportunity to travel across the world to this international Competition, dedicated to the great violist William Primrose, would not have been possible without the Solti award… Although I did not reach the final of the Competition, I was awarded the Robertson Prize, and an invitation to perform in the “Palpiti” Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2012. I would like to thank the Solti Foundation for the help I received in fulfilling this exceptional experience.”
Milica Djordevic Serbia, composition, 2011
Milica writes: “I have just returned from the Tzil Meudcan Festival in Israel. I would like to thank you once again for giving me a chance and making this wonderful experience possible… I have to tell you that this course was fantastic, and that my piece had an amazing premiere - it was a great success, of which I am very proud! Thank you very, very much for your generous support!”
BingBing Li China, piano, 2011
BingBing writes to share some good news with the Foundation - following recent exams, she was awarded three of the Royal Academy of Music’s major piano prizes - the George Award, the Walter Macfarren Prize and the Lloyd Hartley Prize. Congratulations to her also.
Renata Benvegnu Italy, piano, 2011
Renata was granted funding to help with the costs of sitting her final diploma exam at the Accademia S. Cecilia in Rome. She writes with her thanks and to tell us that she received the top mark of 10 out of 10 in the exam. Congratulations!