Adjudicators announced for BFS Competitions 2019

We're delighted to announced the adjudicators for the BFS Competitions 2019:

BFS School Performer and BFS Young Performer: Lisa Nelsen and Alena Walentin

BFS Young Artist: Ileana Ruhemann and Jonathan Rimmer

The yearly event will take place on Wednesday 20th February 2019, from 9am to 9pm, with applications open until 22 January 2019 - spaces are limited, so make sure to book early to avoid disappointment! Find full details of the event here.

ABOUT THE ADJUDICATORS

Lisa Nelsen

Described by The Times as ‘a flautist and a half’, Lisa Nelsen is internationally recognised for her versatility as a flute soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, educator and mentor in performance practices. She grew up on a pig farm in Western Canada, and fed on all kinds of music, from opera to rock to jazz. Her flute and harp duo with Eleanor Turner, Aquilae, has performed to packed audiences across the UK. She is a member of Continuum Ensemble in London; The Harborough Collective, a chamber ensemble led by internationally acclaimed violinist David Le Page; and most recently formed a trio with cellist Julian Metzger and pianist Paul Turner in Enigma14.

Lisa gives concerts and masterclasses in venues across the UK, Canada, the United States, and Hong Kong and is a Professor at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music in London, teaching flute and coaching wind chamber groups and the orchestral winds. Lisa was the Specialist Flute Tutor at Wells Cathedral School for more than 15 years, and is a BFS Council member. Lisa is an artist for Yamaha Classical Division International playing a 14k 900series flute.

Alena Walentin

Alena Walentin is a concert flautist, an Altus Artist, an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and Yeomen Artist of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. She is a recipient of numerous prizes such as 1st prizes at the British Flute Society’s Competitions, International Flute Competition “Friedrich Kuhlau” and Royal Academy of Music flute competition. She has also won several prestigious awards including the Worshipful Company of Musicians Award, the Hattori Foundation Award, The Leverhulme Trust Award, The Philharmonia MMSF Award and the “Wolfson Foundation Award”. In 2014 Alena became an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music receiving an honorary award for her contribution to music.

Alena teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Junior Royal Academy of Music, City University of London and at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Her orchestral playing includes appearances as a Principal flute with the Royal Opera House,The Hallé Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia and many others, and she has given solo and chamber recitals across the world and is signed with an International music agency Granvig Artists.

Ileana Ruhemann

Ileana was educated at the Purcell School and studied the flute with Judith Pearce. She became principal flute of the National Youth Orchestra and won an instrumental exhibition at Cambridge University, where she read Music. On graduating, she won the only place open to foreign flautists at the Paris Conservatoire in 1983 and studied there with Alain Marion and Raymond  Guiot. She was also awarded scholarships by the French Government, Munster Trust, Martin Fund, and Ian Fleming Charitable Trust. She won the prestigious National Federation of Music Societies' Award for young concert artists, appeared in the Park Lane Group Young Artists Series, and was chosen to join the Live Music Now scheme.

Ileana has been Principal Flute of the BBC Concert Orchestra since 1989, a position she has combined with a career as a soloist and chamber musician. She was a member of the leading chamber ensemble Capricorn and continues to play as a member of  the ensembles Jeux, Fibonaci and Gemini. She has given solo recitals for BBC Radio 2 and 3 and has made many appearances as concerto soloist on the South Bank and at St John's, Smith Square. She has played as guest Principal Flute in most orchestras in the UK. Ileana has had works written for her by composers ranging from Stanley Black to John Tavener.

Jonathan Rimmer

Jonathan Rimmer studied at the RNCM, was a finalist in the Shell LSO Competition and in 1990 won the woodwind section of BBC Young Musician of the Year. As a soloist he has toured twice with the European Community Chamber Orchestra and in America at venues such as the Lincoln Centre, Time Warner Centre and the United Nations, New York. He has performed in many festivals including City of London Festival, Chichester Festival, and extensively throughout the UK.

Jonathan is a founder member and Principal flute with the groundbreaking Ensemble Cymru with whom he has worked for nearly twenty years, during which time he has premiered many new works and been closely involved with furthering the Ensemble’s position as the leading light of Welsh chamber music. Jonathan has broadcast for national radio and television and toured the Middle East, USA, and Mexico where he was also invited to be tutor at the Mexican International Flute Festival. Jonathan is in great demand as a teacher with posts including Birmingham Conservatoire, Bangor University, and Junior RNCM. He is a BFS Council member.