by Debra Richtmeyer

The Third Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition was held July 4-16, 2011 at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand.  Jean-Marie Londeix wrote in the competition’s program book that, “This competition, which is dedicated particularly to contemporary art music and to the advanced techniques that are required to perform such music, is aimed at discovering the world’s best young performers, those who wish to faithfully express the most idiomatic music for saxophone, today’s music of saxophone”.

Five people were selected for the Finals, and they each played one of the three mandated concertos with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Christopher Hughes for the Final Round. The Jury was Jean-Marie Londeix, President, Arno Bornkamp, Daniel Kientzy, Lars Mlekusch, Debra Richtmeyer, and Narong Prangcharoen.  Dr. William Street was Coordinator and Shyen Lee was Artistic Director.  The Competition was sponsored by Selmer Paris, P. Mauriat, Rico and Sax Society.

The winners were:

First prize - 5000 Euros and two Selmer saxophones and the opportunity to be recorded for radio and television in Bangkok, as well as a concert engagement with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra: Joshua Malcolm Hyde (Australia) performing the Marius Constant Concerto, Denisov, Mantovani, Lauba, JS Bach.  Principal Teachers:  Vincent David, Marie-Bernadette Charrier, Barry Cockroft

Second Prize -3500 Euros and two Selmer saxophones: Michael Krenn (Austria) performing the Marcel Mihalovici Concerto, Nodaira, Denisov, Lauba, CPE Bach.  Principal Teachers: Lars Mlekusch, Ofo Vrhovnik.

Third Prize – 2000 Euros and one Selmer saxophone:  Noa Even (USA) performing the Marius Constant Concerto, Denisov, Shrude, Alla, JS Bach. Principal Teachers: John Sampen, Debra Richtmeyer, Jean-Michel Goury, Fred Hemke.

Fourth Prize - one saxophone: Xavier Larsson (Spain) performing the Constant Concerto, Denisov, Mantovani, Rossé, Telemann.  Principal Teachers: Albert Julià, Rodrigo Perez Vila, Andres Gomis.

Fifth Prize – one saxophone:  Joel Diegert (USA) performing the Constantin Miereanu Concerto, Denisov, Mantovani, Alla, JS Bach.  Principal Teachers: Vincent David, Jean-Michel Goury, John Sampen, Steven Mauk.

Special Prize for the Youngest Competitor:  Ningxin Yo/Yo (Australia) & Xavier Larsson (Spain)

Special Prize for Best Thailand Player:  Kitikum Jungate (Thailand)

Special Prize for Audience Favorite Player (as voted for online and in the audience): Joshua Malcolm Hyde (Australia)

Special Prize for the Best Contemporary Solo Piece Performance in Preliminary Round: Takuro Ogawa (Japan)

There were 55 competitors from 14 different countries that played in the Preliminary Round: Australia (4), Austria (1), Canada (3), China (4), Finland (1), France (1), Germany (1), Japan (13), Singapore (1), Slovenia (2), Spain (3), Taiwan (5), Thailand (6), USA (10).

The Preliminary Round was screened from the Jury and the contestants performed two unaccompanied pieces (one a baroque or classical transcription of the candidate’s choice and one selected from a list of works by Lauba, Havel, Rossé, and Alla.

The Semi-Finals were with piano and the contestants selected one work from a list of compositions by Hindemith, Koechlin, Desenclos, Denisov, Talpash, Karlins and Margoni and one work from a list of works by Mantovani, Leroux, Angulo, Matsushita, Nadaira, Shrude, Taira, Levaillant, and Rossé.

The Finals were with orchestra and the contestants selected one composition from a list of concertos by Miereanu, Mihalovici, and Constant.

The Semi-Finalists were:

Michael Krenn (Austria), Joshua Malcolm Hyde (Australia), Ningxin (Yo-yo) Su (Australia), Jonathan Rautiola (Finland), Alexandre Souillart (France), Makoto Hondo (Japan), Arisa Kimura (Japan), Yo Matsushita (Japan), Takuro Ogawa (Japan), Tanaka Takuya (Japan), Fukuda Toru (Japan), Yukari Uekawa (Japan), Miha Rogina (Slovenia), Xavier Larsson (Spain), Pin-Hua Chen (Taiwan), Kittikhun Jungate (Thailand), Joel Diegert (USA), Matt Evans (USA), Noa Even (USA), Sean Hulburt (USA), Philip Pierick (USA), Zachary  Pfau (USA), Zachary Shemon (USA).

All performances are available to view and listen to at Adolphesax.com<http://Adolphesax.com/>.

The 4th Jean-Marie Londeix Competition will be held in July 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand at Mahidol University.

Congratulations to everyone who competed and to the Semi-Finalists and Finalists!  The level of playing at this competition was higher than ever and a testament to the many wonderful saxophonists and composers around the world today!