The Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have announced the sixth annual Jordania Conducting Competition, to be held between August 26 and September 1, 2006 in the beautiful, historic city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This competition will be open to conductors from around the world who wish to enhance their careers through international competition, expand their network of global contacts and have a wonderful experience working with the musicians of the Jordania Competition Orchestra and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Orchestra. We also offer Master Classes, professional development seminars and many opportunities for one-on-one contact and individual guidance from our distinguished international panel of judges.

Housing for this years competitors will be furnished by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The 2006 Competition is being presented in loving memory of Vakhtang Jordania. For more information about him, please visit http://www.jamesarts.com/vakjo2.htm.

The Jordania International Conducting Competition will be offering the Jordania Grand Prize of $7, 500 to the winning conductor.

The William L. Montague, Jr. Second Place Winner will receive $5,000.

The Third Place winner will receive $2,500.

The Competition Jury reserves the right to divide or not award prizes at their discretion.

The 2005 Jordania International Conducting Competition was a great success, with co-winners of the The William L. Montague, Jr. Second Prize Harutyun Arzumanyun of Armenia and Matteo Pagliari of Italy and Third Place to Christopher Chen of the United States.

Information about the winners of last year's competition can be found at http://www.jamesarts.com/VJCNDCMP05WINNERS.htm.

*Please note that the Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition is open to all, regardless of nationality, age, or sex.

Chattanooga, the 4th largest city in the state, is located in Southeast Tennessee near the border of Georgia at the junction of four interstate highways. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its beautiful downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront. The city and county have developed an extensive greenway system which includes 5 miles of constructed riverwalk beginning downtown and meandering through the historic art district and several parks. With its scenic beauty, stable population and economy, civic vitality and cross-sector partnerships, fiscal integrity, and strategic location, Chattanooga enters the 21st century as one of the most progressive and livable mid-size cities in the US. In this decade the city has won 3 national awards for outstanding "livability", and 9 Gunther Blue Ribbon Awards for excellence in housing and consolidated planning.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a national model for metropolitan universities. In collaboration with our many regional partners, they offer students an experiential learning environment graced with outstanding teaching scholars in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. The University is located only a few blocks from the urban area of Chattanooga, a city that is both highly industrial and rich in natural beauty. Claiming more than 600 industries, Chattanooga lies at the foot of Lookout and Signal Mountains where the Tennessee River forms Moccasin Bend. These sites possess historical significance as well as beauty in a city steeped in the heritage of the American Civil War.

The cultural environment of Chattanooga is enhanced by contributions from the University and the many civic organizations that support the arts through dramatic productions, concerts, and art exhibits. More about the city at http://www.chattanooga.gov.

The Jordania Competition Orchestra is composed of the finest professional musicians within the Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia area. These musicians are the principal components of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (AL), the Atlanta Symphony (GA) Orchestra, and the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestra (TN), to name a few. We are pleased to announce that Mark Reneau, the concertmaster of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra will serve as concertmaster of the Jordania Competition Orchestra. The majority of these musicians have played under the baton of Vakhtang Jordania. They are dedicated to preserving his memory.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Jooyong Ahn, Music Director, is the most advanced orchestral ensemble at UTC. Its educational purpose is to provide a pre-professional experience for applied music and music education majors and for musically talented students majoring in other fields. It presents several full-length concerts each year, including one opera. Its repertoire is drawn from major symphonic works of the 18th through 20th centuries. More about them at http://www.utc.edu/Academic/Music/. More about the University's Fine Arts Center at http://www.utc.edu/Administration/FineArtsCenter/.

The Sixth Jordania International Conducting Competition is scheduled to take place between the opening party on Saturday, August 26 and the closing night concert on Friday, September 1, 2006. Contestants will be screened in a process that will begin with submission of a curriculum vitae, a recent photo, a biographical sketch, repertoire list and a performance videotape or DVD along with a non-refundable processing fee of $100 (written in U.S. Dollars only - no bank transfers will be accepted), payable to the Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition. All entries must be postmarked by May 15, 2006. Decisions will be announced by June 1, 2006. Entries will be screened by an international panel of judges. 24 people will be selected to compete in the first round.

Please note: A performance videotape or DVD is required. Applications will not be processed without a performance videotape or DVD. When submitting videotape or DVD, please be certain that you can be seen conducting from the front, with as close a view of you as possible. Views of your back or from a great distance are not helpful. The jury needs to be able to see your conducting technique clearly.

Please also note: Attendance at the opening party on Saturday, August 26 is required, as drawing for order of performance will be determined at that time.

Repertoire is subject to change.
Competitors will be informed of final repertoire by June 1.

Round 1 - August 27 and 28 - The 24 contestants, on each of two successive days, will have 20 minutes to rehearse and present two selections, one from the pair of required pieces and the Wagner. You must have the entirety of both pieces ready. You will be informed which section the jury wants to hear from each piece you have selected when you arrive for your performance:

Schubert - Symphony No. 5, D. 485
or
Haydn - Symphony No. 87 in G Major
and
Wagner - Siegfried Idyll

Please note that this round will be with chamber orchestra.
12 contestants will be selected to move on to the next round.

Round 2 - August 29 and August 30 - The 12 contestants, on each of two successive days, will have 30 minutes to rehearse and present three selections, one from each pair of required pieces as well as the Stravinsky. You must have the entirety of all three pieces ready. You will be informed which section the jury wants to hear from each piece you have selected when you arrive for your performance:

Rossini - Overture to Barber of Seville (Kalmus Edition)
or
Rossini - Overture to La Cenerentola
and
Mozart - Symphony No. 39, K. 543
or
Beethoven - Symphony No. 4
and
Stravinsky - Concerto in D or Apollon Musagete

6 contestants will be selected to move on to the next round.

Round 3 - August 31 - The 6 contestants will be allowed 40 minutes to prepare and present one of the following pair of required works, the Stravinsky and the contemporary composition selection:

Kodaly - Dances of Galanta
or
R. Strauss - Don Juan, Op. 20
and
Stravinsky - Firebird Suite (1919 version)
and
Contemporary composition - this selection will be announced when contestants arrive for competition - scores will be provided and will be given to contestants the night before their jury performance.

3 contestants will be selected to move on to the final round.

Round 4 - September 1 - Final Concert Round - The 3 finalists will rehearse and conduct the Jordania Competition Orchestra and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Orchestra in concert at the UTC Fine Arts Center. This rehearsal is part of the competition. The jury will decide which pieces each contestant will rehearse and perform at the final concert that evening. The selection will be made from the pieces each contestant has already presented.

Prizes will be announced at the closing night concert.

The final concert will be videotaped and DAT recorded. Copies of these recordings will be presented to the 3 finalists.

HOW TO APPLY

Simply download the entry form, making sure that all of the required elements and the non-refundable entry fee are enclosed, and mail them to:

Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition
7457 Preston Circle
Chattanooga Tennessee 37421
USA

Please use this checklist to insure that all required elements are included with this application:

_____ Curriculum Vitae

_____ Performance Videotape (DVD or VHS Format)

_____ Recent Photo

_____ Biographical Sketch

_____ List of Repertoire Conducted

_____ Competition Repertoire Selections (download repertoire form here)

_____ $100 Non-refundable processing fee (made payable to Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition) — Please note - all checks must be written in U.S. Dollars - NO BANK TRANSFERS WILL BE ACCEPTED

All entries must be postmarked by May 15, 2006. Decisions will be announced by June 1, 2006.

Contact Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-586-3433 or by email at jamesarts@worldnet.att.net or Joan Murray at 423-894-5748 or by email at clownjoni@aol.com.

Jeffrey James Arts Consulting

Jeffrey James,   President

45 Grant Avenue Farmingdale, NY 11735 Tel & Fax: 516-586-3433   E-mail: jamesarts@worldnet.att.net

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