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The Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition is back for a third edition


The Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition is back for a third edition

Competition will be presented in two rounds and offer one more prize this year

Lamèque, N. B., Tuesday, July 18, 2017: The Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival is proud to present the third edition of the Mathieu Duguay Early Music Competition on July 27 and 28, 2017.

Following a process of auditions for which nearly thirty musicians from around the world have applied, three finalists were chosen earlier this year to take part in the Competition finals. Sopranos Myriam Leblanc and Catherine St-Arnaud and harpist Antoine Malette-Chénier will have the chance to perform in Lamèque during the two rounds of the Competition. The three finalists will first perform in recital on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 2 p.m., at Notre-Dame-des-Flots Church in Lamèque. They will be accompanied by Hank Knox on the harpsichord and Amanda Keesmaat on the cello. For the final round of the competition, the three competitors will perform works by Georg Friedrich Händel and Antonio Vivaldi in a concert presented on July 28, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-de-l'Île . They will play and sing with the Mission Saint-Charles Orchestra under the direction of renowned harpsichordist Hank Knox.

According to artistic director of the Festival, Vincent Lauzer, the presentation of the Competition in two rounds will allow the Festival audience to appreciate the various facets of the incredible talent of the three finalists. "We are proud to offer them the opportunity to perform in concert, twice rather than once, in a major event such as the Lamèque Festival. I have no doubt that they will charm the audience of the Festival! " said Lauzer.

Presentation of the awards will take place after the second concert. The three finalists will share $6,500 in prizes. The jury of the Competition, comprised of Pascale Beaudin, Hank Knox, Sophie Larivière, Matthias Maute and Susie Napper, will award the three main prizes. Festival audiences will also have the chance to make their voices heard by voting for the Audience Prize award. The Barachois Summer Music Festival and the Festival Montréal Baroque will both offer one of the finalists an invitation to perform in concert in the summer of 2018. The Festival team is also proud to announce the creation of the "Founder's Award", a prize which will be presented by the Festival's founder, Mathieu Duguay, to the finalist of his choice.

The 42nd season of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival is presented from July 27 – 29, 2017. Details of the program are available on the Website at www.festivalbaroque.com and tickets are on sale.