The Pablo Casals Festival

Second International Composers Competition

 organized by the Prades Pablo Casals Festival (14 April 2007) – Unpublished chamber music works.
Hee Yun KIM is the prize winner with “Memory of Dong-Hak” , quintet for flute, clarinet, violin, viola and piano.
Jury :
      • Marc-André Dalbavie, Composer
      • Cristóbal Halffter, Composer
      • Krzysztof Penderecki, Composer
      • Barry Douglas, Piano
      • Frans Helmerson, cello
      • Michel Lethiec, clarinet
      • Vladimir Mendelssohn, viola

This second competition called up a total of 117 candidates from all countries ; five of them have been retained as finalists : Mr. Antti AUVINEN (Finland), Mr. David Philip HEFTI (Switzerland), Mr. Karol BEFFA (France), Mrs. Silvia COLASANTI (Italy) and Mrs. Hee Yun KIM (South Korea).

The concert was in Saint-Michel de Cuixŕ abbey. The programme included 2 trios for violin, cello and piano, 2 quintets for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello and a quartet for strings and piano, interpreted by Ensemble Calliopée.

Hee-Yun KIM is a 35 years old composer. She has written several pieces of chamber music and orchestra. Her recent quintet Ť Memory of Dong-Hak ť (2004-2005) demonstrates her excellent mastery in composition. This work finds its inspiration in traditional folkloric Korean tunes and stands also on the cutting edge of western music, subtly mentioned. The central theme of the quintet is dedicated to a social Korean demonstration of the end of the XIX century. Labourers revolted against corruption and ill-inspired interference of their government. They failed but the rebellion enhanced the national awareness and was the source of a beautiful popular song Ť Bird, bird, oh, blue bird ť that expresses the longings and hopes for a better future. Besides remembrances of old master ( such as Olivier Messiaen in her first movement), she develops her proper musical writing. This young talented American composer is, at the same time a student in musical arts doctorate (DMA) at an American university. Hee Yun KIM has been previously awarded several distinctions : a 2nd prize at a composers competition in Tokyo (2005), laureate of the composers competition in New York, finalist of the International Composers Competition ALEA III, in Boston (2004) and First Prize Winner at the International Composers Competition of South Korea.
Her career is in steady progression, and her distinction by the jury of the Pablo Casals Festival is a clear demonstration. She received 15 000 euros as a reward for her talent and as an encouragement for her major participation in contemporary music.

Since the creation of the competition in 2005, the Prades International Competition for Chamber Music Composition (biennial) has motivated nearly 455 young composers coming from all around Europe, Asia and Latin/South & North America. The jury whose originality lays in the fact that all its members are international famous composers and soloists, adding the notoriety of the Festival Pablo Casals, give today’s composers, full advantage of the privilege of participating.

This competition is taking place every two years. Next rendezvous (3^rd edition) : April 2009.