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Press Release15 March 2023Siemens AGBerlin/Manchester
Emerging conductor Euan Shields wins the Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition 2023
Euan Shields, the winner of the Siemens – Hallé International Conductors Competition 2023, Photo: Alex Burns, The Hallé
"It
was a wonderful experience to participate in this competition, and I am honored
to receive the opportunity to work with Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra
in the future," says Euan Shields. "Over the three days of intense music making, I was able to bond
with and learn from so many fantastic musicians from the Hallé Orchestra and
Hallé Youth Orchestra, as well as the seven other candidates from across the
globe. I’m very grateful to Siemens and the Hallé Orchestra for creating such a
supportive atmosphere which empowered every candidate to be able to fully
express themselves personally and musically."
Euan Shields
grew up in Osaka (Japan) and San Francisco (U.S.). He completed his master’s
degree in orchestral conducting at the Juilliard School in New York, U.S. and
has worked with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in Monaco, the
Sønderjylland Symphony Orchestra of Denmark and the Juilliard Lab Orchestra in
New York, U.S.
Eight semifinalists were shortlisted from more than 200
applications. Three of
these candidates then made it to the final, where they conducted the Hallé
Orchestra to perform four pieces by Mozart, Elgar, Sibelius and Stravinsky. For
the first time, the final was a public event at which the finalists were put
through their paces in front of an international audience. In a live voting
session, the audience members chose their favorites for recommendation to the
jury.
“It has been
an enthralling three days and a privilege to observe such wonderful talent,”
said Sir Mark Elder, the Hallé Orchestra’s Music
Director. “Choosing the
winner was very difficult, but I’m delighted to welcome Euan Shields as the new
Assistant Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra and look forward to working with him.”
The first
prize of the Conductors Competition consists of a two-year engagement as
Assistant Conductor to Sir Mark Elder, the Hallé Orchestra’s Music Director. In
addition, the winner will take over the directorship of the Hallé Youth
Orchestra and will have the opportunity to become established on the world
stage through numerous guest appearances. Shields will take up his new position
with the Hallé Orchestra in September 2023.
Euan Shields,the winner of the Siemens – Hallé International Conductors Competition 2023 and Delyana Lazarova, the winner of the Siemens – Hallé International Conductors Competition 2020 (from left to right), Photo: Alex Burns, The Hallé
The three finalists: Pablo Urbina (3. Price), Euan Shields (1. Price), Agata Zając (2. Price), (from left to right), Photo: Alex Burns, The Hallé
“The Hallé
Orchestra is a long-standing cultural institution that has a major influence on
the music scene,” said Stephan Frucht, Artistic Director of the Siemens Arts
Program. “For this reason, the Conductors Competition of the Siemens Arts
Program, especially in association with the Hallé Orchestra, offers young
talented musicians the ideal start to a promising career. For Delyana Lazarova,
the first prize winner of the Siemens Hallé International Conductors
Competition, the win has brought her a real career leap and she has since
conducted orchestras all over the world.”
Alongside
Stephan Frucht and Sir Mark Elder, the competition jury comprises further
prestigious, internationally established experts from the music world: David
Butcher (Chief Executive of the Hallé), Anna Hirst (Head of Artistic Planning for
the Hallé), Angela Dixon (Chief Executive of Saffron Hall), Sergey Smbatyan
(Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and the Malta
Philharmonic Orchestra) and Carola Reul (Managing Director of the Junge
Deutsche Philharmonie).
The
competition builds on a long-standing partnership between the Hallé Orchestra
and Siemens AG. As well as fostering excellence among talented young musicians
as part of the Siemens Arts Program, the two organizations collaborate closely
on delivering a variety of educational and community outreach projects.
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Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a globally leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company had around 311,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.