The 2014 Ekstrand competition finalists, from left to right: Andrew Giordano, Daniel Nester, Joshua Ulrich, Sharon Park, Paul Kroeger, Zachary Reaves and Andrew Krimm. (Not pictured: Rebecca Robinson)
It鈥檚 a chance for professional growth, performance experience and recognition as the winner of the College of Music鈥檚 premier graduate student performance competition. And it鈥檚 marking a milestone: the Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition turns 30 years old this year.
Launched by then Dean Robert Fink at Bruce Ekstrand's suggestion and later renamed to honor the late听, the competition yearly awards cash prizes to graduate student performers for professional development. His colleagues say Ekstrand, while being a music lover, was also a fan of friendly competition. Indeed, Dean Emeritus Dan Sher used to introduce the competition with the quip, "Bruce never met a competition he didn't like."
Norma Ekstrand, wife of the late vice chancellor for academic affairs, says he had good reason to bring competition into the everyday. "He felt competition brought out the best effort in everyone," she says.
After preliminaries among individual departments and a semi-final round, five finalists are chosen to compete in the grand finale before a panel of judges and a public audience. This year鈥檚 final round is Sunday afternoon, November 15.
With just 15 minutes to perform, musicians have to make just the right impression. For听, it took a few attempts to find the winning piece. 鈥淢y third time entering the competition, I finally won,鈥� says Dorman-Phaneuf. When she won the Ekstrand competition in 1997, the cellist played听Fr茅d茅ric听Chopin鈥檚 Grand Polonaise Brilliante, Op. 22. 鈥淚t was the perfect fit because it was so challenging. You have to find an impressive piece if you want to stand out.鈥�
Dorman-Phaneuf鈥檚 advice will come in handy for grad students competing this year, as the panel of judges is impressive, as well: Music Director of the 麻豆影院 Philharmonic Michael Butterman, Music Director of the Colorado College Summer Music Festival Susan Grace and former Eklund Opera Music Director and Professor Emeritus Robert Spillman.
At stake is a $2,000 prize for the overall winner, $1,000 for second place, $500 for each of the remaining finalists and $500 for the audience choice prize. The prizes are intended to encourage and kick-start the careers of these musicians, helping defray the costs of recording, performance and outreach.
And that鈥檚 exactly what it did for last year鈥檚 winners鈥擟ollege of Music graduate string quartet in residence, the听. 鈥淚t helped us book a series of concerts outside Austin, Texas, which opened up the door for other concerts,鈥� says founding cellist Zachary Reaves. 鈥淚t led to really great relationships with other artists, and the sponsors of that series put some money toward recording our first album.
鈥淓verything鈥檚 a domino effect. When we got the prize money, we didn鈥檛 know it would lead to more opportunities, but you have to take that chance 鈥� and in our case, it worked out.鈥�
In a different鈥攜et just as critical鈥攙ein, Dorman-Phaneuf says her prize money allowed her to buy her first computer. 鈥淭hat was huge in terms of getting my doctorate finished at the time,鈥� she says.
But the competition also taught her to experiment. 鈥淚t helped me figure out that, even if I don鈥檛 get it right on the first try, I can鈥檛 just walk away. I needed to put myself in a position to play better, and present myself in the best light that I could. That鈥檚 really helped in my professional career.鈥� Dorman-Phaneuf now plays in a Broadway orchestra in New York鈥攈er 14th Broadway show, 鈥淔iddler on the Roof,鈥� starts in November.
Reaves and the other members of the Altius鈥攙iolinists Joshua Ulrich and Andrew Giordano and violist Andrew Krimm鈥攈ave gone on to play more competitions together, including their first one overseas in Melbourne, Australia. 鈥淕etting to play on an international stage is huge. I hope what we鈥檝e learned at the Ekstrand and other competitions will propel us into a long career together.鈥�
He says the group is grateful for the motivation that comes from competitions like the Ekstrand. 鈥淲hen we鈥檙e getting ready for a competition, we don鈥檛 let anything slide because we know everything will be picked apart. If you rehearse like that long enough, you won鈥檛 know how to prepare any other way. Then your next big concert鈥攍ike Carnegie Hall鈥攚on鈥檛 be as intimidating because you understand how to take things to the next level.鈥�
The Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition is Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, at 2 p.m. A brief reception will be held during judging and before the presentation of the winners.
