HISTORY OF THE COMPETITION

The competition started in 2002 inspired by Dima Tkachenko, concert violinist, a member of Goodenough College and Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He persuaded Tim Toyne Sewell Director of Goodenough College to become the Chairman together with Ms Heather Graves, also a member of the College, who became the Executive Director. Whilst there were a significant number of high calibre competitions in Europe, North America, the Antipodes and Asia, the United Kingdom, despite its leading position in classical music, had not had a major violin competition for fourteen years, let alone a cello competition. The Britten competition was created to rectify that position.

The first competition, for violinists, took place in 2004. The finalists played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the Barbican and the winners played with the London Symphony Orchestra in a Gala Concert with Sir Andrew Davis conducting. The Chairman of the Jury

was Ida Haendel and the 8 Jury members were distinguished musicians drawn from all quarters of the world. The prizes were presented by The L ord Mayor of London in front of a distinguished audience in the Barbican.

The aim of future events is to provide London and the United Kingdom with prestigious international competitions for stringed instruments for advanced performers under the age of 30. Although the first two competition are for the violin, it was always intended that future competitions should also embrace other instruments.

The competition is designed to attract to London the most talented musicians from around the world and provide a platform to successfully launch the careers of the prize-winners though concerto and recital engagements.

The 2008 competition is being organised by Goodenough College. British conservatoires will be invited to encourage their students to enter the competition. Other competitors will come from all over the world.