Aug 13: Competition Begins!
Following a very rainy morning, Saturday evening (August 12) kicked off the evening concerts for this year’s Cheju (Jeju) music festival. Following a very fine display from a Japanese Majorette group, the George Solti Brass Ensemble from Hungary began the evening’s 
musical festivities at the seaside pavillion. Of particular note was the ensemble’s rich blend and very high performance standard. The ensemble was conducted by tuba virtuoso Roland Szentpali. At the same time….some distance away…the Chestnut Brass quintet was giving its first performance….tough choice!!
Sunday morning (August 13) began at 9 am with the first round of the euphonium competition.
25 participants were involved in the first round. The required selection for the first round was the Johann Hummel Fantasy arranged by Robert Childs and Philip Wilby. Additionally, each competitor selected one from the following 2 works: Capuzzi Andante and Rondo or Thom Ritter George Sonata. All but 4 participants selected the Andante and Rondo.
Fifteen participants were selected to continue to the second round. The level of competition was VERY high and the consistency with which the performers played was really remarkable. The contestants advancing to the second round were:
Hidenori Arai
Mai Sunada
Yusadu Katsuta
Yuko Kamata
Ayano Iwakuro
Taeko Shizu
Yumi Fujisawa
Satoshi Oyama
Ayumi Nakada
Yuya Muramatsu
Ryunosuke Abe
Azumi Komuro
Kyohei Ando
Takao Miyake
Junko Nomi
These participants will perform in the second round which will be held on August 16. It is a very advanced group of performers and promises to be a very close competition!