The Azerbaijan-American Music Foundation is announcing an online competition for the best performance of the “Fantasy in Mugham Style” for violin and piano by Asaf Zeynalli, one of the trailblazing musical stars of Azerbaijan, who was a virtuoso pianist, educator, composer, and a public figure.  Total prize money of $ 250 ($200 violinist + $50 accompanist) and the AAMF Certificate of Excellence will be awarded to the winner of the competition. 

Contestants who desire to take part in the competition must submit the following materials to [email protected]  No application fee is needed.

•    A link to a quality recording of the “Fantasy in Mugham Style” via YouTube video sharing services.  Smartphone recordings are allowed.  Good sound quality is required.  

•     Contestant’s full name, country/state of origin, educational institution, best email, and phone number for communications.  

The deadline for video submissions is no later than 11 pm Central Time (USA) on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.  The name of the winner will be announced before 11 pm Central Time (USA) on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, and available for review on AAMF’s FaceBook page and the website.  AAMF reserves the right to use submitted videos of contestants for publicity purposes on their website and social media channels.

This competition doesn’t have an age limit.  All are welcome. 

To download a free copy of the “FANTASY IN MUGHAM STYLE” please click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15_6ZAYOZWfadruQp907HdxWGQvtf6iT6/view?usp=sharing

ASSESMENT CRITERIA FOR BEST PERFORMANCE

The following criteria using the point system has been established for objective assessment of online performances:

• Intonation (25 points)
• Tone production (25 points)
• Interpretation (25 points)
• Overall Artistic Impression (25 points)
• Total of 100 points

THE JURY

JULIA BUSHKOVA, Professor of Violin at the University of North Texas, USA.  Acclaimed by Joseph Gingold as a “virtuoso of the highest rank,” Julia Bushkova has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras and in recital throughout the United States, in her native Russia, as well as Germany, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, South Africa, Mexico, Chile, and Venezuela. “Schwarzwalder Bote” (Germany) described her playing as “a Russian violin tradition of highest elegance.” The “Grand Rapids Press” and the “Ann Arbor News” emphasized “her remarkable expressiveness and an unusually large and beautiful tone… her dazzling cadenzas and extraordinary technical execution.”

ZAHRA GULIYEVA Professor of Violin at Baku Academy of Music, Azerbaijan, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan.  Hailed by Boris L. Gutnikov as “a talented violinist with bright temperament, beautiful and perfect tone, virtuoso technique,” Zahra Guliyeva appeared as a soloist on musical stages world-wide, including countries of the former USSR, China, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Italy, and the USA.  Throughout her musical career, Guliyeva embraced and performed a broad repertoire consisting of works of Western and Eastern classical composers ranging from Baroque to Contemporary, including oeuvres of Azerbaijani composers.