EarRelevant Staff | 30 OCT 2024
- Garrick Ohlsson to Chair Jury for 2025 Chopin Competition in Warsaw
- Applications open for 2025 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition
- Cathedral Choral Society names interim executive director
Garrick Ohlsson to Chair Jury for 2025 Chopin Competition in Warsaw
WARSAW, Poland— Renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson has been appointed jury chair for the upcoming 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, marking the first time a non-Polish musician will head the competition’s jury. Scheduled for October 2-23, 2025, the prestigious event will see Ohlsson leading a panel of eminent Chopin specialists, including past competition winners and scholars of the composer’s work.
Ohlsson, an accomplished interpreter of Chopin’s music who won the competition in 1970, shared his enthusiasm for the new role on Facebook, stating, “It will be my great honor to chair the competition jury for The Fryderyk Chopin Institute’s 19th Competition in 2025. Winning this competition was life-changing, and my ongoing relationship with the institute is deeply meaningful.” He also highlighted the competition’s significant influence in Poland and globally, noting that tickets for this year’s finals sold out within two minutes.
The Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years, is one of the world’s leading events for young pianists, renowned for discovering new talent and championing Chopin’s compositions. The 2025 competition will be held at Warsaw’s National Philharmonic Hall, where audiences will witness three stages of competitive performances. Contestants will perform works exclusively by Chopin, a defining feature of the event since its founding nearly a century ago.
The qualification process for the 2025 competition began earlier this year. Following an initial round of recordings, approximately 160 pianists will be invited to preliminary live auditions in Warsaw in April and May. After the preliminaries, the field will narrow to 80 participants for the October competition. Auditions and the finals will be live-streamed worldwide and broadcast on Polish Radio, with additional coverage by TVP Kultura. ■
For more information about the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition: konkursy.nifc.pl/en/miedzynarodowy/o-konkursie/77.
Atlanta Opera Appoints Three New Board Members to Support Organizational Growth
ATLANTA, Georgia— The Atlanta Opera has appointed Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, Clark Dean, and Rashaun Williams to its Board of Directors, each set to serve a three-year term beginning this month. The additions bring a diverse array of business and community expertise, aligning with the Opera’s ongoing objectives for strategic expansion and community engagement.
Rhys Wilson, Chair of The Atlanta Opera’s Board, expressed optimism about the new members, describing them as leaders with deep connections to both business and community work. “We are thrilled to have Qaadirah, Clark, and Rashaun join our Board of Directors,” Wilson said, adding that their involvement would strengthen the Opera’s efforts to broaden its reach and impact.
Each new board member brings distinct experience to the organization.
Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, Head of Community Strategy at BlackRock’s Atlanta Innovation Hub, has been a prominent figure in advancing social equity initiatives. Abdur-Rahim previously served as the City of Atlanta’s Chief Equity Officer, focusing on policies to promote economic mobility and youth engagement. She also co-founded Future Foundation, a nonprofit addressing poverty in Atlanta public schools, and holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.
(continued below…)
Clark Dean, a leader at Transwestern, brings extensive experience in transaction sciences and civic engagement. He has led the company’s Transaction Sciences Group and serves on the boards of several Atlanta nonprofits, including the Shepherd Center and Covenant House GA. Dean, a Harvard graduate, is known for his innovative approaches to community and nonprofit work and is actively involved in the Rotary Club of Atlanta and The Carter Center’s Board of Councilors.
Rashaun Williams, a venture capitalist and limited partner of the Atlanta Falcons, has a record of high-profile investments through his firm Value Investment Group and as a co-founder of Queensbridge Venture Partners, which invested early in companies like Robinhood and Lyft. Williams also launched Antimatter Business Partners, aimed at helping athletes and entertainers establish private equity offices. A summa cum laude graduate of Morehouse College, Williams has previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank.
The Atlanta Opera, founded in 1979, has grown to national prominence under the leadership of General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun, recently earning “Tier 1” status among U.S. opera companies. Known for innovative programming like the “Discoveries” series and the 96-Hour Opera Project, the Opera is recognized for efforts to expand opera’s accessibility and community engagement. ■
For more information, visit the Atlanta Opera’s website at atlantaopera.org.
Dallas Symphony Association Names Roger C. Gault as New Board Chair, Adds Nine Members to Board of Governors
DALLAS, Texas— The Dallas Symphony Association (DSA) has appointed Roger C. Gault as the new Chair of its Board of Governors, succeeding Cece Smith, who has served since the 2021-22 season. The DSA also welcomed nine new board members: Jim Baldwin, Dr. Linda Burk, Kevin Bryant, Susan Geyer, Marsha Halloran, Dan Hoverman, Steve Penrose, Michael Rosenthal, and Crayton Webb, each beginning three-year terms effective immediately.
The new leadership aims to further the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s (DSO) mission of enriching the Dallas community through music, education, and outreach. “We are thrilled to have Roger Gault as our Board Chair for the next three seasons,” said Michelle Miller Burns, Ross Perot President & CEO of the DSO. “Roger and his wife Marena have been integral to the success of the Dallas Symphony for years.”
Gault, a licensed architect and real estate broker with a long history of civic engagement, expressed his commitment to the role. “The DSO is the cultural cornerstone of North Texas, and I am proud to support its mission of inspiring our community through transformative musical experiences,” Gault said.
Outgoing chair Cece Smith reflected on her tenure, highlighting recent DSO initiatives. “Artistically and institutionally, the DSO has invested in bold ideas, and it has been my privilege to help make those a reality,” she said.
The DSO, led by Music Director Fabio Luisi, performs over 150 concerts annually at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and reaches more than 243,000 people through performances, education, and community outreach. Founded in 1900, the orchestra is an anchor of the Dallas Arts District, the largest arts district in the United States. ■
For more information about he Dallas Symphony Orchestra, visit dallassymphony.org.
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Fryderyk Chopin Institute: konkursy.nifc.pl/en
- The Atlanta Opera: atlantaopera.org>
- Dallas Symphony Orchestra: dallassymphony.org
Read more by EarRelevant Staff.
RECENT POSTS
Quint impresses in Wallen’s “Violin Concerto” with Prieto and NC Symphony, framed by Brahms and Sibelius • 29 Oct 2024
