The latest news from BIMC
BBC Music Magazine Awards 2022
Congratulations to The Sitkovetsky Trio who have won the BBC Music Magazine Chamber Award 2022 for their Ravel and Saint-Saëns Piano Trios.
Alexander Sitkovetsky is one of our BIMC Ambassadors and we send our best wishes to him and The Sitkovetsky Trio.
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Edmond Fivet CBE 1947-2021
Tribute
Edmond Fivet CBE, a former Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music, whose death has recently been announced had a long association with what is now known as The Bromsgrove. He was the Chairman of our distinguished adjudicating panel at the time I became BIMC Chairman in 2013. It was extremely fortunate for me, a non-musician, to have such an eminent musician with his management skill in place to guide me.
He was the most approachable of people, whose winning smile, humour and ardent encouragement sped me through the difficult few months to my first competition in April 2014. He was a long-term friend of our first President, Sir John Manduell; between them, they helped me steer a successful course towards moulding The Bromsgrove into what it is today; a successful unique niche international competition attracting young players of world talent.
Through Edmond, the focus of the competition was always on the young musicians who took part, wanting the competition process to be a stepping stone towards a successful musical career. Competitors themselves always valued his oral feedback on their performances. He became a person whose judgement and finesse was always readily available to me, both until 2017 when he completed his term as Adjudicator Chairman and afterwards when we regularly spoke on the phone.
All the present and past trustees of The Bromsgrove, and especially myself, owe him a great debt of gratitude for his huge support across the many years he so enthusiastically associated with us. I also felt honoured and privileged to have enjoyed his friendship outside the framework of the competition, and sadly, our plan to meet at the 2020 competition was wrecked by COVID-19. All who had contact with him through The Bromsgrove send heartfelt condolences and prayers to his wife, Liz, and his family at this sad time together with our message that he will not be forgotten.
Ian Morris
Past Chairman of The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition
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Applications now open for BIMC 2022
Follow in the footsteps of our previous BIMC winners who have gone on to international acclaim - applications are now open for The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition 2022.
The competition welcomes solo instrumentalists aged 18-25, and vocalists up to the age of 28.
Top prize of £6,000 and two further finalists' prizes of £3,000 each.
The deadline to apply is 16.00 hours on Sunday, 27th February 2022.
Apply online today at https://bromsgrovecompetition.com/applicationform.aspx
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2021 Finalists' Concert Live Stream - 5th June 2021
Tickets are now on sale to watch the 2021 finalists' concerts live from the comfort of your own living room!
The final of the Young Musicians' Platform takes place on Saturday, 5th June at 3.00pm. Watch in awe as musicians aged 9-17 take part in both the Junior and Senior sections.
The final of The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition then takes place in the evening at 7.00pm. Watch as our three finalists (aged between 18-25, or up to age 28 for singers) battle it out for the top prize.
Tickets for each live stream are £10 per household. Once your ticket has been purchased, you will receive a link to the live stream on the day of the concert.
To book your live stream tickets, please visit the box office at https://www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/whats-on.aspx
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BIMC 40th Anniversary Fourth Online Recital (April 2021)
Join us virtually for our fourth online recital, performed by Bartosz Glowacki (Accordion) on Friday, 9th April 2021 at 5.00pm.
Alessandro Marcello - Adagio from Oboe Concerto in d minor
Jerzy Madrawski - Three Pieces for solo accordion
Astor Piazzolla - Libertango
If you haven't already signed up to our mailing list to receive details of the concert, please click here.
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BIMC 2021 now open to applicants
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for this year's Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition. If you are a musician aged 18-25 (28 for singers), please submit your entry online here.
The deadline is 16.00 hours GMT on Wednesday, 28th April 2021.
The semi-final rounds will take place on Thursday, 3rd and Friday, 4th June, with the Final on the evening of Saturday, 5th June 2021.
There is no preliminary round this year. Instead, applicants will be adjudicated on their two recordings (submitted via the application form) before being notified if they are successful in moving forward to the semi-final, which takes place in person.
Please note that if you entered the International Competition in 2020 and rolled your entry forward, we will also contact you to confirm arrangements, but if you have any queries or have changed your contact information, then please email us at admin@bromsgrovecompetition.com
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BIMC 40th Anniversary Third Online Recital (March 2021)
Performed by Luke Jones (Piano), our third online recital of our anniversary concert series will take place on Friday, 5th March 2021.
If you already receive our emails, you do not need to register again. However, if you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive details of how to watch this recital, please sign up at https://bromsgrovecompetition.com/online-recitals.aspx
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BIMC 40th Anniversary Second Online Recital (February 2021)
Our second recital for The Bromsgrove's 40th Anniversary celebrations goes live this Friday, 5th February. There's just a few days left to sign up to listen to Grieg's Violin Sonata no 3 performed by celebrated violinist, Alexander Sitkovetsky.
SIGN UP: bit.ly/bimcrecitals
If you currently receive our emails or signed up to the last recital, you will automatically receive details for this recording.
(Photo Credit: Vincy Ng)
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BIMC 40th Anniversary World Premiere (December 2020)
Join us virtually for the World Premiere of The Bromsgrove's 40th Anniversary composition.
2002 winner and twice-GRAMMY nominated saxophonist, Amy Dickson will perform the World Premiere of Chris Rogerson’s ‘Four Simple Songs’ in an online concert streamed for free on 11th December. Introduced by BIMC President, George Caird, and dedicated to its Founders - Dr Mary White, Dr Donald Hunt, Joyce Messenger and Peter Ward - and former Chairman and latterly President, Sir John Manduell, the concert on 11th December will be the first of several mini-recitals available during the early months of 2021. All recitals will feature some of The Bromsgrove’s previous winners, several of whom now act as their Ambassadors - international world-class stars including Alexander Sitkovetsky, Luke Jones and Emily Sun. Led by Amy Dickson, each has generously donated their time to record their favourite pieces and explain how winning The Bromsgrove was important for them.
‘Four Simple Songs’ was originally commissioned for The Bromsgrove’s 40th Anniversary in April 2020, but due to COVID-19 and the Government restrictions in place at the time, the celebrations had to be put on hold – the first time the competition was not able to run in its forty year history.
Chairman of The Bromsgrove, His Honour Ian Morris says, “The Bromsgrove has established a reputation for nurturing many of the best young musicians from across the world, and we are delighted to bring some of those back to perform virtually. I anticipate that our online audience will want to applaud their devotion and generosity by enjoying the brilliant performances across our upcoming online recital series. This loud applause will be appreciated even more if audience members feel moved to make a donation through our website – small or large. We would be most grateful to receive any amount of support, as we set out to meet new challenges to help aspiring young musicians through whatever times lie ahead.”
To find out more about the competition, please visit www.bromsgrovecompetition.com
If you are already on our mailing list and receive news and information about our concerts, there is no need to register - you will receive information about this concert and the online link shortly.
If you are not already on the mailing list and you would like to receive the links to The Bromsgrove’s online mini-recitals, please email admin@bromsgrovecompetition.com
Over the last four decades, a total exceeding seventeen hundred young musicians have used BIMC as their stepping-stone towards national and international success, and with your help, support and encouragement, the competition’s trustees cannot wait to welcome many more musical stars into The Bromsgrove family.
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New BIMC Ambassador - Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the latest Bromsgrove Winner to become one of our Ambassadors. Many of you came and enjoyed his performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and are following his career. May I invite your voluntary support for this online performance he made to help perpetuate the important North Wales International Music Festival in these difficult times.
Link: https://nwimf.com/luke-jones
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Calling all former competitors... BIMC Spotlight is here to help you
We have been thinking how BIMC could help you as past competitors to find new sources of financial support without cost to yourselves in these unsettling times.
The BIMC Spotlight initiative outlined below takes you through four relatively simple steps, which may provide you with some welcome income from playing online. Many of you may already be set up to do this; others not, but would like to. Of course, we can give no guarantee that the BIMC Spotlight will produce money for you. We have simply tried to set out the steps in one place to help you.
Step 1
Have you a Website? If yes, you might like to look at Step 3 and check it has such content. If you do not have a website and you decide you want to use our Spotlight initiative, then try Step 2.
Step 2
There are a number of internet providers through whom you can set up your own website for free. Try any of them and find one that suits you. This link might help you to start off your search: https://top5-websitebuilders.com/
Step 3
To help visitors to your site, the contents of your website should include perhaps under an Online Listening Tab:
• a short biography and photograph of you, including the year(s) when you competed at The Bromsgrove, what you have done since and full contact details.
• some short video excerpts of you playing/singing classical pieces, which visitors to your website can listen to and view for free before engaging with you in more depth.
• a list of popular pieces (say 10-15) and their time duration, which you can offer allowing people to make a choice to purchase and/or make a donation.
• how you will allow access to the piece(s) they have chosen.
• how you wish people to pay e.g. to your account with PayPal or to your Bank by an electronic BACS payment.
Step 4
Now send to BIMC at admin@bromsgrovecompetition.com the link to your website and your social media handles (whether you are on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or all of these, please remember to include all your user names in any communication to us) and we will circulate and publicise to our contacts.
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Amy Dickson performs on BBC Radio 3
Amy Dickson performed Chris Rogerson's 'Four Simple Songs' on BBC Radio 3 on Friday, 1st May 2020.
You can listen to it on catch up here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000hpxn
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Sneak Preview of 40th Anniversary Commissioned piece
We are hugely grateful to BIMC Alumnus Amy Dickson for performing this very special piece of music as aprt of her 'Solo Sessions' on YouTube. 'Dreams' was commissioned for our 40th anniversary concert in April 2020 (sadly postponed due to COVID-19).
Please sit back and enjoy this sneak preview, and we hope to see you all back at The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition soon.
WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VMBVUFVuq4
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A Tribute to Bernard Hall-Mancey
Photo: Aston Fields year eight pupils, Katie P and Lewes W with Ex Cathedra members Rob Challinor, Ula Chapman and Sarah Budd and David Morgan, and Music trustees Jeremy Sharp and Bernard Hall-Mancey - 16th February 2016
I first met Bernard late in his retirement and during my own in April 2014 at my first, Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition after taking over from Mary White as Chairman. My memories thus are from sitting next to him in Routh Hall or having a cup of tea outside and conversing with him. At that time I knew nothing about him save his delightful friendly manner and deep knowledge of classical music. I was most grateful to him for educating me in the finer musical points of the competitors who I so enjoyed listening to with him. Only later from others did I discover his own illustrious career in music followed by an extremely energetic retirement.
He was one of those people who preferred to be seen in the background, as seen in the picture below. He seemed to live a simple life in his later years happily cycling about Bromsgrove town. His influence for me, however, seemed always to be at the cutting edge of what might benefit young musicians. He was a most self-effacing individual with a lovely sense of humour. I am absolutely sure that those of all ages whose lives he touched in so many different ways were each enriched by his presence in theirs.
I was deeply saddened to learn of his recent death and I personally will miss him greatly when The Bromsgrove hopefully renews itself in April 2021. His spirit of selflessness will endure and those he taught will take his remembrance well beyond our own times. I am sure I speak on behalf of all associated with BIMC when I say that our thoughts and prayers go out to all his family and close friends at this tragically sad time.
- His Honour Ian Morris, Chairman of The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition
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BIMC 2020 Postponed
The COVID-19 virus has cast its shadow over all of us and will, we fear, be with us for several months yet. We write with regret to inform you that one of its casualties will be The Bromsgrove 2020 Competition.
I know that you will have been looking forward to enjoying an evening of marvellous world-class music from our selected three finalists. Sadly now we have decided that competition will have to be postponed. We are sure that you will understand that this was a most difficult proactive decision but was unanimously supported by the Trustees after careful consideration of the risks in conjunction with our major partners, Bromsgrove School.
So that is the bad news. The positive and cheering news is that the Bromsgrove Young Musicians' Platform auditions were completed successfully in February. Their Finalists’ Concert will now take place at 3.00pm on Sunday, 25th October 2020.
The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition will take place, as usual, next year starting on Tuesday 5th April 2020, with the finalists’ concert on Saturday, 10th April 2021. Fifty amazing competitors have already been chosen from the applicants this year and will be allowed to compete next year without further ado, so be assured that we already have a marvellous competition for our new gold medal in waiting for you.
At present, we are unsure if Amy Dickson can transpose her appearance to 10th April next year. In the event that she is not available, we have decided to celebrate our 40th Anniversary by inviting her to top the bill to play the world premiere piece composed by Chris Rogerson already in rehearsal. She will be joined by international star names from other past Winners for a musical spectacular at the Routh Hall in late Autumn 2020. Tickets will be on sale for that evening as soon as final arrangements can be made. So please do watch out for those sales on our website at www.bromsgrovecompetition.com. Money raised from this concert will go towards the continuance of The Bromsgrove.
Meanwhile, may we thank you for your past, and future support.
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Special Composition for BIMC 2020 by Chris Rogerson
We are delighted that renowned composer, Chris Rogerson has been commissioned to compose a solo piece for BIMC 2020 Guest Artist, Amy Dickson, to be premiered at our 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert on Saturday, 4th April.
Don't miss out on what promises to be a very special evening - tickets can be purchased here at www.bromsgrovecompetition.com/tickets/aspx
We are delighted that renowned composer, Chris Rogerson has been commissioned to compose a solo piece for BIMC 2020 Guest Artist, Amy Dickson, to be premiered at our 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert on Saturday, 4th April.
Don't miss out on what promises to be a very special evening - tickets can be purchased here
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Gold Medal to be awarded at BIMC 2020
Our new Gold Medal, specially designed for our 40th Anniversary in April 2020 by Worcestershire Medal Co. Ltd. The medal will be presented to our First Place winner, together with £6,000 generously donated by the Helen Rachael Mackaness Trust and an opportunity to perform a Concerto with the prestigious Orchestra of the Swan; plus recital opportunities to play at the famous Three Choirs Festival, and at the prominent Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
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Amy Dickson (BIMC 2020) scheduled for 40th Anniversary return
Twice GRAMMY nominated Saxophonist, Amy Dickson is scheduled to return to Bromsgrove for BIMC's 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert on Saturday, 4th April 2020. Amy won The Bromsgrove in 2002 and has since gone on to worldwide acclaim. Amy will be performing a specially composted piece just for us so this is one event not to miss. Tickets will be released in due course via our website and on social media.
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A Concert with BIMC 2019 Winner, Hyungi Lee
Hyungi Lee returns to Bromsgrove for a concert at the Artrix Theatre on Friday, 8th November 2019 (8.00pm).
Hyungi Lee was born in South Korea and came to the UK at the age of 12. She has studied at the Purcell School and the Royal College of Music and she won the percussion category final in the 2012 BBC Young Musicians Competition. Hyungi will be playing a range of percussion instruments during her recital.
Tickets via the Bromsgrove Concerts website: http://www.bromsgrove-concerts.org.uk/index.php/site/concert_details/73
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A concert with BIMC 2018 Winner, Luke Jones
A concert with BIMC Winner 2018, Luke Jones (Piano), to be held in Routh Concert Hall, Bromsgrove School on Friday, 27th September 2019 (8.00pm).
Debussy: Images Book 1
Ravel: Miroirs
Schumann: Waldsenen Op 82
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No 8 Op 84
Since Luke Jones won the Bromsgrove Competition in April 2018, his career has continued to blossom. He has won the Kerr Memorial Prize from the Royal Overseas League and a scholarship which enables him to continue his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music on to the Master's programme. He has featured twice in the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire concert programme in the 2018-19 season, in both recital and concerto performances.
Tickets via the Bromsgrove Concerts website: http://www.bromsgrove-concerts.org.uk/index.php/site/concert_details/71
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2019 Finalists' Concert
Congratulations to Hyungi Lee (marimba) who has won BIMC 2019. Well done also to our runners up, Oliver Wass (harp) and Maxim Kinasov (piano).
The Sir John Manduell Prize went to Michael Matthews (guitar) and the Accompanists Prize was awarded to Matthew Leung.
Raymond Wui Man Yiu was awarded Highly Commended during the semi-final.
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Bromsgrove Platform past winner excels in an international maths contest
During Easter holidays, Naomi Bazlov who won the Senior platform in 2018 travelled to Ukraine to take part in the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad. This is one of the most prestigious mathematical problem solving competitions worldwide, attended by 36 European countries and a number of teams from other continents. Naomi was selected as one of the top four in the UK to be included in the UK national team, and was awarded an Olympiad Silver medal for her personal result in the contest.
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Emily Sun awarded Tagore Gold Medal
Congratulations to former BIMC winner and Honorary Ambassador Emily Sun who recently received the Tagore Gold Medal from HRH The Prince of Wales.
Emily, you are going from strength to strength and everyone at BIMC is very proud of you!
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BIMC 2019 Finalists' Concert - Tickets Now Available
Tickets for the BIMC 2019 Finalists' Concert have now been released.
Get your tickets for Saturday, 13 April here.
Entry to the preliminary rounds is free from 9-12 April.
The schedule for each day will be published on our website.
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The Late Donald Hunt
Our Deputy Chairman, Alastair Moseley, represented the Trustees of BIMC at the memorial service, held at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 19th January 2019, for Donald Hunt, one of our Founders who sadly died in 2018.
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Jamal Aliyev at Classic FM Live
Former BIMC winner, Jamal Aliyev will be appearing at Classic FM Live this coming April 2019. Sir Karl Jenkins will conduct the orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus at the Royal Albert Hall in his own works Adiemus and the Benedictus from The Armed Man, with cellist Jamal as the soloist. Click here for more information.
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BIMC Branded Bags
The BIMC committee are pleased with their new branded bags. Make sure you stop by the Young Musicians’ Platform and The Bromsgrove competition in February and April 2019 respectively to get your hands on one!
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Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
We were delighted to join our donors and supporters for 2018 BIMC Winner, Luke Jones’ Piano Recital in the magnificent Bradshaw Hall at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Our guests were also treated to a buffet lunch in the Organ Room, before meeting with Professor Julian Lloyd Webber.
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BIMC Winner's Recital
The Orchestra of the Swan are putting on a series of concerts in collaboration with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. On 19 June 2019, our BIMC 2018 winner, Luke Jones will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. To find out more and to book tickets, please visit the RBC website: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/oots-a-celebration-of-new-talent
Andrew Griffiths conductor
Luke Jones piano
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1
New short work by a Conservatoire Composition student
Conservatoire Concerto prize winner concert
Thea Musgrave Green
Luke Jones, winner of the Bromsgrove International Musicians’ Competition 2018 performs Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1, premiered in 1803 with the composer himself as the soloist. One of the Royal Conservatoire of Birmingham’s rising stars, winner of the Conservatoire Concerto Prize, will also join OOTS and Andrew Griffiths, a dynamic and versatile young conductor with a particular flair for opera and choral music.
The concert ends with a short work by Thea Musgrave, who feels it represents either the freshness of youth or the plant life in our world on which we all depend.
1.30pm
Pre-concert talk: Chris Morley (Music Critic, Birmingham Post), Thea Musgrave, our competition winner and a student from the composition department discuss the challenges and demands faced by young classical composers and soloists today
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Donald Hunt OBE
It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Donald Hunt OBE, who died on 4th August 2018, aged 88. It was Donald's original idea to form 'The Bromsgrove' and which the late Mary White took forward.
Donald's extraordinary contribution to music at Worcester Cathedral, Three Choirs Festival and as principal of the Elgar School of Music will be long remembered. He served for some years as Artistic Director of the Bromsgrove Festival and many will fondly recall his passion and exuberance as a talented musician and conductor.
Our website contains a fuller biography: https://bromsgrovecompetition.com/founders.aspx
Our thoughts are with Donald's family and friends at this time.
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BIMC 2018 Final
Congratulations to BIMC 2018 competitor Luke Jones (Piano) who won the 2018 Finalists' Concert in Routh Hall on Saturday, 7th April. Luke performed Rachmaninov's Etudes Tableaux No. 5 and 9 Op. 39, and Medtner's Sonata No. 9 Op. 30.
After the announcement was made by our Chairman of Adjudicators, Meurig Bowen, Luke was joined on stage by fellow competitors Irena Radic (Piano) and Lewis Banks (saxophone) as the two runners up.
Bartosz Glowacki (Classical Accordion) won the Sir John Manduell Prize with his rendition of Victor Vlasov's 'Archipelago Gulag 1st and 2nd movements'.
The Accompanists Prize went to Kaoru Wada for her accompaniment in the earlier rounds.
We give thanks to all competitors for joining us through the BIMC 2018 week, as well as our adjudicating team of Meurig Bowen (Chairman of Adjudicators), Sarah Bruce and Roderick Williams OBE.
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2017 Winners' Recital at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Our 2017 winner, Emily Sun will be performing a Recital at the Opening Ceremony of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 8th May.
To find out more, please visit http://www.bcu.ac.uk/co…/events-calendar/midday-music-8-5-18
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Honorary Ambassadors announced for The Bromsgrove
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| Amy Dickson (BIMC 2002) |
Alexander Sitkovetsky (BIMC 2006) |
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Jamal Aliyev (BIMC 2015) |
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Emily Sun (BIMC 2017) |
We are delighted to announce our Honorary Ambassadors for The Bromsgrove International Musicians' Competition:
Amy Dickson (BIMC 2002): Twice-GRAMMY Nominated Saxophonist
Alexander Sitkovetsky (BIMC 2006): Critically-acclaimed Violinist
Jamal Aliyev (BIMC 2015): Award-winning Cellist
Emily Sun (BIMC 2017): Celebrated Violinist
Our Ambassadors will be working with us to promote the competition worldwide.
In the run up to the 2018 competition, we'll be looking back at when they won The Bromsgrove and update you on what they are doing now.
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