On Saturday 26 September, the 30th Saxon ‘Werner Richter’ Competition for Accordion and Bandoneon will take place at the Chemnitz Municipal Music School, Gerichtsstraße 1. The public competition rounds will begin at 10.00 am and are open to interested members of the public. The prize-giving ceremony will take place during the closing concert, which begins at 6.30 pm in the concert hall of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School. Amongst others, accordionist Andrej Kos will perform there in a duo with Filip Brezovšek on the clarinet.
Admission is free. Members of the media are also invited.
The long-established “Werner Richter” competition brings accordion and bandoneon players from all over Saxony to Chemnitz. It is aimed at amateur musicians of all ages, who thus have the chance to showcase their musical skills in the categories of solo accordion, solo bandoneon and chamber music before a panel of expert judges, gain stage experience and exchange ideas with other music enthusiasts.
The competition combines musical tradition with a contemporary repertoire. In all categories, the competition programme includes at least one original work from the 20th or 21st century. In the solo categories – with the exception of the youngest age category – a composition for the accordion by the renowned music educator Werner Richter, after whom the competition is named, must also be performed.
A specialist jury comprising members of the German Accordion Teachers’ Association and recognised experts assesses the performances. All participants receive a certificate stating the grade achieved and the score obtained. In addition, first, second and third prizes are awarded in the individual categories.
One of the awards is the ‘Werner Richter Trophy’, donated by Thea Richter, which is awarded – along with prize money of 100 euros – to the performance with the highest score in the entire competition. In addition, the Saxony Regional Association of the German Accordion Teachers’ Association provides further cash prizes.
Background
In 1950, Werner Richter was one of the founding teachers at the Chemnitz Music School and headed the accordion department for many decades. As an educator, musician and composer, he had a lasting influence on life at the music school. He wrote numerous works for his pupils and for the ensembles he mentored, all tailored to the musicians’ respective abilities. Today’s competition carries on this musical legacy and combines it with the promotion of the next generation.
Further information: Saxon Werner Richter Competition
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