BUDDING Bachs and Beethovens are invited to step forward to represent Todmorden Lions in a music contest arranged by the international organisation.
The annual Lions Musical Competition culminates in a European final which will take place in Turkey in a year’s time.
But the community and humanitarian organisation wants to hear now from anyone aged 22 or under who has a special talent for tickling the ivories.
Lion Rod Wainwright, of Todmorden Lions, said the event is held annually but the instrument chosen to be played varies from year to year.
Entrants don’t need to have the same level of skill as the likes of George Gershwin or Leonard Bernstein but they must be at Grade 8 or above, said Mr Wainwright.
Candidates must have been born after December 31, 1989 and have been resident in Great Britain for at least three years prior to January 1, 2013. Mr Wainwright said: “The competition starts at club level, then goes to district level, national level and then to the European final.
“The national competition will take place at the Birmingham Conservatoire in April next year and the European final will be in Istanbul at the end of October 2013.
“The entrants have to play an imposed, compulsory work and then choose one piece from a repertoire list of 10 - two if they reach the European final.”
The suceessful British entrant chosen at the Birmingham Conservatoire will then play at the Lions’ Europa Forum and Mr Wainwright would love a talented Calder Valley pianist to scoop the top prize. He has already scoured the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester without success.
The compulsory piece is Rondo in A Minor KV511 by Mozart and pianists can select from famous works such as Scherzo opus 4 (Brahms) or 1st of the 4 Scherzos (Chopin). Anyone who fits the bill and would like to represent the Lions at national and even international level can call Mr Wainwright on 01706 816802 or email rodfromtodd@btinternet.com for further details. Entries need to be submitted by November 24.
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