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 | | Dokshizer competition jury - Rear: - Christer Nilsson,
Anatoly Selianin, Rimoydas Zigaitis, Virgilius Nemaniunas. Front: Eric Aubier, Timofei Dokshizer, Leonard Candelaria |
Trumpeters and brass players from countries across the European continent congregated in Vilnius, Lithuania from September 23 through October 6, 2002 to participate in the 2002 EURO-BRASS Festival and the concurrent Timofei Dokshizer International Trumpet Solo Competition. Hosted by the National Philharmonic Society of Lithuania with the cooperation of Music Forum (Lithuania), the organizing entity, the Danish Cultural Institute and Euromondi (UK), both events were successful in bringing brass players of diverse cultures and levels of experience to Vilnius to celebrate the musical life of the revered master through the sharing of a common motivation - music making.
The trumpet solo competition, conceived as an 80th birthday celebration in honor of Maestro Timofei Dokshizer, was originally planned for 2001. Because of some unfortunate organizational problems and financial complications, it was necessary to reschedule the event. This fact may have contributed to the modest number of entrants. The trumpet competition was truly international being comprised of 10 contestants from diverse parts of the world including Lithuania (4), Russia (2), Switzerland (1), Austria (1), Viet Nam (1), and Japan (1). The panel of jurors included Maestro Dokshizer as chairman, Virgilius Nemaniunas (Lithuania), Rimoydas Zigaitis (Lithuania), Christer Nilsson (Denmark), Eric Aubier (France), Anatoly Selianin (Russia), and Leonard Candelaria (United States).
 | | Lito Fontana and James Watson
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The three rounds of the competition were held in the excellent acoustical venue of the Small Hall of the Lithuanian Philharmonic Society. Repertoire for the various rounds included standard works by Tomasi, Bitsch, Halsey Stevens, Francaix, Hindemith and Enesco. A unique aspect of the competition was that music composed or arranged specifically for the trumpet by Mr. Dokshizer, including works by J. S. Bach, Gershwin, Neruda, and selections from his Images Romantiques, also comprised required repertoire. At the conclusion of the three rounds of the competition the jury awarded Second Prize to Giuliano Sommerhalder of Switzerland and Third Prize to Kirill Gusarov of Russia. No First Prize was awarded.
 | | Leonard Candelaria and Timofei Dokshizer | The activities of the European Brass Forum were held concurrently with the trumpet competition. Featured was the EURO-BRASS Ensemble, directed by the distinguished English trumpet artist and brass band conductor, James Watson, Head of Brass Instruction and Artistic Director at the Royal Academy of Music. The twenty-nine-member symphonic brass ensemble was comprised of young instrumentalists representing the countries of Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Russia, Italy and Austria. Presenting a concert repertoire ranging from Gabrieli to Holst to Bix Beiderbecke, the group performed three concerts to large and enthusiastic audiences in Vilnius and Kaunas. ITG Past-President, Dr. Leonard Candelaria, performed as trumpet soloist with the ensemble. Italian trombonist, Lito Fontana, was also featured.
To signal the official start of the festival, Leonard Candelaria, on less than 24-hour notice, performed a recital of music for piccolo trumpet and organ on September 27 to a large and appreciative audience in the Arch-Cathedral Basilica of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Vladislaus. Other activities of the EURO-BRASS Festival included masterclasses by Christer Nilsson (trumpet), Stephen Meade (euphonium), Lito Fontana (trombone), and Anatoly Selianin (trumpet). As the concluding event a reception honoring Maestro Dokshizer and all the festival and competition participants was held in the Teachers House in Vilnius on October 6, 2002.
Source: Leonard Candelaria |
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