Concours International d’Execution Musicale Genève (CIEM) 1996 – International Competition For Musical Performers Geneva (CIEM) 1996

International Competition For Musical Performers Geneva (CIEM) 1996 swissmusic

The two first-prize winners in 1996 were trumpeter André Henry and violist Naoko Shimizu. This recording catches their brilliance while performing works by Ivan Jevtic, Jean Balissat - a world premiere recording - and Willy Burkhard.

1st Prize fro Trumpet – André Henry

André Henry was born in Le Cheylard (France) in 1969. He already earned first prizes for trumpet and for cornet from the conservatories of Avignon and Vulleurbane and the Rhône-Alpes. He won further prizes at the Kiwanis National Competition and at the Toulon international Competition. He has participated in the festivals of Salzburg and Ansbach. From 1993-2000 he was the trumpet soloist in the Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de la Loire. Since then he works as a soloist and professor for trumpet worldwide.

2nd Prize for Viola – Naoko Shimizu

Naoko Shimuzu was born in Osaka (Japan) in 1968. Naoko Shimizu studied violin under Etsuko Hirose and Toshiya Eto at the Toho Gakuen College of Music. Studies on viola followed under Nobuo Okada. From 1994, she completed her viola studies under Nobuko Imai at the “Hochschule für Musik” in Detmold (Germany).

At the time of the CIEM contest Naoko Shimizu had already performed at the Tanglewood and Marlboro Festivals in the United States. She was the first-prize winner at the Markneukirchen International Competition in 1995.

Afterwards Naoko Shimizu gained high recognition for winning the first prize in the 1997 Munich International Music Competition (Viola Competition). Since Yuri Bashmet, she became the first person in 21 years to win this prize. Since 2001, she became the principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. To this present day, she is also performing widely in Europe.

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

The most internationally renowned of Swiss orchestras, The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande was founded in Geneva in 1918 by Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet (1883-1969). Ansermet remained the orchestra’s chief for 50 years during which time he guided it to international eminence. Under his baton the orchestra earned widespread recognition especially for its performances of works by this century’s most important composers including Debussy, Stravinsky and Ravel, as well as Swiss composers Frank Martin, and Arthur Honegger. Ernest Ansermet co-operated closely with the Geneva International Competition for Musical Performers from its inauguration in 1939.

Marc Kissóczy

Marc Kissóczy was born in Montreal in 1961. He studied violin and conducting at the Zurich Conservatory. He received a diploma for virtuosity after additional studies with Ulrich Lehmann at the Berne Conservatory. Further studies in conducting followed at the Pierre Monteux School (USA) and with Sergiu Celibidache, Rolf Reuter, Charles Bruck and Pierre Boulez.
He has a.o. conducted many symphonic formations, including the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Hradec Kralovà Philharmonic and the Berne Symphony Orchestra.
Marc Kissóczy was the third-prize winner at the CIEM in 1994.

Donald Tulloch

Co-soloist Donald Tulloch – in Balissat’s “Kaléidoscope for Trumpet and Percussion” – was born in Nyon (Switzerland) in 1975. He studied at the Geneva Conservatory, where he earned a diploma in percussion in 1996, also winning the Prize of the City of Geneva.

Ivan Jevtic (1947)

Ivan Jevtic was born in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). Following studies in composition with Stanojlo Rajicic at the Belgrade Music Academy he studied with Olivier Messiaen in Paris and with Alfred Uhl in Vienna. His works (symphonies, concertos and chamber music) have rapidly earned international recognition and are performed throughout the world.

Jean Balissat (1936-2007)

Born in Lausanne Jean Balissat studied counterpoint and harmony with Hans Haug. He continued his studies in orchestration and composition with André-François Marescotti and conducting with Samuel Baud-Bovy at the Geneva Conservatory. In addition he studied percussion and horn. He taught composition and orchestration at the Geneva and Lausanne Conservatories.

Willy Burkhard (1900-1955)

Born in Leubringen near Bienne. After graduating from the Muristalden (near Berne) teachers’training college, he began his musical studies in Berne, then went to Leipzig (S.Karg-Elert), Munich and Paris. 1928 he was appointed as theory teacher at the Conservatory in Berne.
From 1933 on, lung problems made sojourns in Montana and Davos necessary. He then settled in Zurich, where from 1942 onwards he taught theory and composition at the Conservatory.
Willy Burkhard was one of the outstanding and influential Swiss composers of the 20th century. He also made an important contribution to the renewal of Swiss sacred music.

Background information on the Geneva CIEM

In 1939 Swiss composer Henri Gagnebin and Frédéric Liebstoeckl founded the International Competition for Musical Performers in Geneva. After Second World war it soon became one of the world’s most prestigious competitions. The inaugural competition included seven categories (bassoon, voice, clarinet, flute, oboe, piano and violin) and was carried through in two stages. The final concert was broadcast by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and by the National Broadcasting Corporation in New York.

The Geneva competition has contunially profited from a close co-operation with leading musicians and orchestras. Eminent Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet (along with the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande) was an ardent advocate of the competition, often appearing on the rostrum himself to accompany young performers.

The collaboration with outstanding musicians also extends to the jury. Over fifty highly respected specialists are involved in the evaluation process each year. They make a major contribution to the outstanding international reputation of the CIEM.

The promotion of Swiss music has also always been one of the primary goals of the Geneva competition. The set selection of pieces from which candidates choose always includes music by Swiss composers (specially commissioned in co-operation with the Swiss Musician’s Association). Over 150 new works have been composed specifically for the competition (including Frank Martin, Heinz holliger, Willy Burkhard etc.).

The city and canton of Geneva and the Swiss Federal government have supported the Geneva competition since its inception. Additional support of eminence was provided by major companies.

Production information

1996 International Competition For Musical Performers Geneva (1997). Musica Helvetica MH CD 101.2. Produced for SRI by Christian Strickler.