Jury 2020


VACLOVAS AUGUSTINAS – Lithuania

President of the Jury 2020

Jury 2020The Lithuanian choral conductor, composer and music pedagogue, Vaclovas Augustinas, graduated twice from the Lithuanian Academy of Music, receiving diplomas in choir conducting in 1981 (under Professor Hermanas Perelšteinas) and composition in 1992 (under Professor Julius Juzeliūnas). Vaclovas Augustinas was member of rock groups Saulės laikrodis and Antis (keyboards, vocal); after the reunion of Antis in 2007, he continues to compose songs and perform with them. From 1980 to 1992, he taught at the Ąžuoliukas Music School. Since 1992 he has been chief conductor and artistic director of the Vilnius Municipality Choir Jauna Muzika. In 1993, as guest conductor, he participated in the Congress of Choirleaders in Växjö, Sweden. In 1996 he led master courses for choir conductors during the international festival XVI Jardanos Coralistas Aragonesas in Borja, Spain. In 1999 he delivered lectures and led the seminar at the world symposium of the International Choir Music Federation held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In 2014 he was appointed Head of the Composition Department of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Vaclovas Augustinas’ works are being regularly performed in Lithuania and abroad at various festivals, concert venues and choir competitions. Among them, his “Hymne à Saint Martin” for double mixed choir a cappella was awarded 3rd prize at the international competition for choral works Florilege vocal de Tours in France, 1996, and next year “Stomping Bride” for mixed choir and instruments was performed at the congress of the Association of American Choir Conductors in San Diego, California. In 2004 he was awarded the prize for the best choral work (Lux aeterna) at the composers’ competition organized by the Lithuanian Composers’ Union, in 2006 – the Mūzų Malūnas Prize for his concert activities, in 2010 – the 1st prize (for Calm and Quiet) at the competition of choral composition, organized by the Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre and the Lithuanian Composers’ Union. In 2010 Vaclovas Augustinas was awarded the Lithuanian National Arts and Culture Prize. Choral works, naturally, represent the most significant and substantial part of his creative output. They often reveal composers’ reluctance to depart from the major-minor system: one can find a few instances, where his harmonies, dominated by the third structures, seem to approach modal organization of pitches. In these works, rhythm and melodic contour are inextricably linked to phonetic and semantic characteristics of a given verbal text. Acoustic affinity serves as a basic factor for dynamic development of his forms.

 

PIETRO FERRARIO – Italy

Member of the Jury 2020

Born in Busto Arsizio, Pietro Ferrario began his musical studies at the age of ten under the guidance of Mariateresa Nebuloni. After his scientific studies he graduated in piano, composition, organ, choral music and choir conducting at the conservatories of Brescia, Milan and Alessandria, studying with Luigi Molfino and Bruno Bettinelli. He then improved in composition with Azio Corghi, in film-music with E. Morricone, in organ with L. Rogg, G. Parodi and others, in choir conducting with G. Graden and T. Kaljuste. He gives concerts as choir conductor, pianist and organist. As a composer he is the author of several pages of piano, organ, orchestral, choral, symphonic-choral, performed and recorded in Italy and abroad (Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Australia, China, United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Israel, Japan, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Norway, South Africa, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Indonesia, Belgium) by important ensembles and established performers, in the major music seasons (recently Carnegie Hall New York 2019 and ACDA National Convention Kansas City 2019) and in the major choral competitions (Arezzo, Tours, Debrecen, Toulouse, Gorizia, Maribor). He has composed on commission of Fondazione Toscanini di Parma, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, Landesakademie Ochsenhausen. In 2004 he won 1st prize at the 1st International Choral Composition Trophy “Seghizzi” in Gorizia; in 2008 1st prize at the International Composition Competition “Bettinelli” in Milan, in 2016 1st prize at the National Composition Competition “Canta Petrarca” in Arezzo. Two of his compositions were compulsory pieces at the International Choral Competition in Arezzo in 2017 and 2019. He has published for Ricordi, Carrara, Rugginenti, Sonzogno, Feniarco, European Musical Editions, Sonitus, and the German Carus-Verlag and Ferrimontana. He has been invited to take part in juries of important international choral and composition competitions in Italy and abroad, as well as being currently a member of the artistic commission of the “Seghizzi” International Choral Competition in Gorizia. In 1997 he founded the vocal Ensemble Calycanthus of Parabiago (1st National Prize of Arezzo 2005, Grand Prize Efrem Casagrande Vittorio Veneto 2006, Feniarco prize as best Italian choir in Gorizia 2008, 1st prize section vocal groups in Biella 2012, 2nd prize ex-aequo (1st not awarded) at the 9th National Competition Lake Maggiore in Verbania 2018 section. mixed choirs), with which he has given concerts in important music festivals in Italy and abroad, also holding premieres of some works by Miškinis, Dubra, Corghi, and Italian premieres of works by Sixten and Antognini, and with which he has recorded two CDs for Bottega Discantica and SMC Records. Since 1997 he has also directed the Choral of the Basilica of Cuggiono and from 1997 to 2014 he also directed the Dalakopen Choir of Legnano (2nd prize Vittorio Veneto 2012, 1st prize Biella 2012). As a pianist, the public performances of Chopin’s, Liszt’s and Rachmaninoff’s Etudes, as well as a programme entirely based on his own piano production, have been of note in recent years. He is the organist and owner of the precious Carrera 1841 organ of the church SS. Gervaso e Protaso in Parabiago (MI), where he lives and works. He has taught various subjects at the conservatories of Vicenza, Cagliari Sassari and Cesena. He currently teaches harmony theory and analysis at the Conservatory of Parma.

 

JOHN AUGUST PAMINTUAN – Philippines

Member of the Jury 2020

John August Pamintuan is a renowned Philippine conductor, composer, singer, clinician, and adjudicator. Since 2007, John is recognized by the American Federation of Musicians as an artist of sustained international acclaim. As a conductor he has given workshops, performed in concerts, and won in competitions in Asia, Europe, and North America. As a singer, he has sung in solo recitals at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and Moscow Glinka Hall. As a composer, John was awarded the composition prize in Tours (France), Tokyo (Japan) and has written commissioned works for the governments of Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Lithuania, and the Philippines. He has composed around 450 pieces which have been performed by choirs from 30 countries. In the last couple of years, John has been invited in the jury of international choir competitions in Hoi An, Cincinnati, Rimini and Cattolica Italy, Singapore, Penang, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Chiang Mai and Bangkok Thailand, Jakarta and Manado Indonesia, Riga Latvia, and the cities of Takarazuka, Kobe, Karuizawa, and Tokyo in Japan. He is also a member of the panel of adjudicators for composition contests in Croatia (2011, 2012, 2014), International Federation for Choral Music (2013), and International Choral Composition Competition Japan (2015, 2016, 2018, 2020). Towards creating cross cultural ties and strengthening friendship and cooperation, John August Pamintuan has also organized many musical exchanges among conductors and choirs of Asian countries. He is the Artistic Director of the Asian Choral Masters, and also an honorary member of the Choral Directors Associations of Japan and Italy.

 

FABIO PECCI – Italy

Member of the Jury 2020

Fabio Pecci studied cello at the Istituto Musicale “G. Verdi” in Ravenna and graduated successfully. He has given hundreds of concerts as soloist and member of chamber and orchestral ensembles in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Greece. He has received several prizes in national and international competitions and has recorded several CDs for Tactus, Bongiovanni and other independent labels. He has led the “800 ensemble” chamber group, also taking care of the musical arrangements. Music Therapist, over the years he has become passionate about music pedagogy, becoming a consultant for various schools and M.I.U.R.; from his work with children was born the passion for the choir. He currently conducts three children’s choirs and a youth choir with which he carries out an intense activity. As choir conductor he has given concerts in Italy, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, San Marino, Lithuania, obtaining several prizes and awards in numerous national and international competitions (including 12 first * prizes): Rimini Choral International Competition – 2009, Kaunas Cantat – 2019, New entries for Guido – Fondazione “G. D’Arezzo” 2019 (2*), Queen of Adriatic Sea Choral Competition – 2015 (*), International Competition City of Treviso – 2013 (*), Pesaro International Music Competition “CIMP” -2018 (*), Pesaro International Music Competition “CIMP “2020 (*), City of Faenza 2012/2013/2014/2015/ 2019 with various formations (6*), Gaffurio” competition in Quartiano di Lodi – 2017. Invited to participate in the concerts for Parma 2020 – Capital of Italian Culture, he has participated as a residential choir/laboratory in various international competitions and workshops, collaborating with V. Miskinis, B. Astulez, Fondazione “Romano Gandolfi “Parma, among others. He oversaw the preparation of the children’s choir in “Tosca”, “Bohème” and “Carmen” for numerous Italian theatres and opera houses, from 2012 to 2019. In 2008 with the choir “Le Allegre Note” she took part in the production of “TE DEUM” by Berlioz directed by M° C. Abbado and broadcast on RAI 1 on Christmas Eve; with the same choir he performed several times C. Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Percussionists of Santa Cecilia in Rome, in several national tours. He has given premieres of pieces by contemporary composers, some of them also dedicated* to his choirs: M. Da Rold*, A. Basevi*, M. Marchetti* and M. Santoiemma. For years he sang as Barytone/Bass in the coro Lirico “A. Galli” in Rimini singing in various operatic productions, directed by prestigious Maestros, among whom also M° Ennio Morricone. Since 2013 he has been a member of the Artistic Commission of AERCO (Associazione Cori dell’Emilia Romagna) for which he is particularly responsible for activities aimed at children’s and youth choirs. Appointed to represent Emilia-Romagna with the choir “Note In Crescendo” at the national choral review at EXPO 2015 “Vivaio di Voci”, he was teacher for the “Spring Festival” FENIARCO in Montecatini in 2016 and 2017. He regularly holds workshops and choral meetings for various choral associations. Jury member in numerous competitions in Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Slovakia, France and Belgium, he is artistic director of the “Città di Riccione” Choral Competition for children’s choirs. For 27 years he has been teaching at school institutes in the province of Rimini and Pesaro/Urbino, curating musical projects dedicated to primary school.

 

HEECHURL KIM – South Korea

Member of the Jury 2020

Heechurl  Kim  is a  professor of  music  school   of  Shenyang University  in China.  He  established Chun-Song Foundation,  which  is a music  foundation  in Jeju, and  began to  hold  Jeju  International Choir Festival  &  Symposium  and  World  Youth  Choral  Festival  &  Competition  in  Jeju.  As artistic director of  both choral   festivals,  he  works  hard   to  invite  various   and   professional  choirs   from Korea  and  abroad and  to  spread out  the  professional choral  education and  choral  music  which including  messages through the  choral  symposium  to  the  society.  World  Youth  Choral  Festival  & Competition  in Jeju, which  held  since  2018,  has  the  purpose of  cultural  exchange  through choral music   and   self-fulfillment  through  performances of  children  and   youth   choirs   form  Korea  and abroad. After  he  studied abroad, he  worked   as  the  conductor of  World  Vision  Korea  Children’s  Choir until  2015.  He  was  recognized his  musical  ability  through having  more  than  1,000  performances and   he  is  still  leading  out   to  publicize   the   importance  of  education through  choral   music  for children  and   youth.   He  also  worked  as  the   artistic   director  for  World   Vision  Korea  Children’s Choral Festival until 2015 and  has been publicized the  importance of choral  education through performances and  seminar/workshops  in abroad. In  Jeju, he  founded Chun-Song Children’s  Choir which  is included in Chun-Song Foundation and  working  as the  artistic  director of the  choir. Besides,  he  contributed on  Korea women’s choral  music  through publishing records and  videos which made with Korean composers’ music  for amateur women’s choir. Also, he  trained younger students and  conductors as professor of Chung-Ang  University  music school  and  others. From  2015  to  2016,  he  performed as  the  guest conductor of  Shanghai  Youth Choir  and   Hangzhou AIYUE  Children’s  Choir  and   Women’s Choir.  He  holds   choral   seminars  for music  teachers of elementary and  middle school  regularly  and  worked  as the  lecturer in China. Currently,   he  is  the   artistic   director  of  Jeju  International  Choir  Festival  &  Symposium, artistic  director of  World  Youth  Choral  Festival  &  Competition  in  Jeju,  principal  of  Yejurang  Arts School,  vice-president  of  Korea  International  Choral  Association,  board member of  Korea  Church Music  Association,  music  director of  United  Singers,  board member and  music  director  of  Chun- Song  Foundation, vice-president of UNESCO Jeju association, conductor of Yonsei Music  Academy, and  choir  conductor of  Myungsung church.   In  2019,  he  gathered youth   from  South   Korea  and North   Korea  and   founded  Korea  Youth  Choir  with  the   purpose  of  sharing  message  of  peace through singing. Conductor,  Heechurl  Kim,  will keep   working   hard   to  make   consideration  and   sharing culture which  is the  characteristics  of choral.  Especially, he  will focus  on  raising  positive  minds  for children and  youth  through choral  education.