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| The Tunnel Mountain West loop - great for hiking! |
There is a wide range of opinions on music competitions. Some people champion them as the only way for young classical artists and ensembles to get their careers off to a start. It is undeniable that the career support and recital engagements offered with most competitions can help springboard the career of a musician. The BISQC is no exception to this. The support offered to the winner is truly incredible and quartets that have won first place have certainly enjoyed success. You've surely heard of a little group called the St. Lawrence Quartet I'd imagine? Yep, they're past winners! This would certainly be placed in the "pros" column regarding music competitions.
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| Hoodoo Lookout Point over the Bow River |
Another great feature of music competitions is that the musicians get to share the music so close to their hearts with an audience. Some members of the audience could be concert presenters or may be able to financially sponsor a recital for these ensembles or artists. In this way, it is beneficial for artists to participate in competitions. The simple fact of having that kind of exposure can mean that quartets or musicians are able to break into a new market.
Unfortunately, I witnessed firsthand the negative aspects of competition. Essentially, many aspects of the decisions are left entirely to chance and some of the decisions made by juries are simply unexplainable. If one is on the wrong side of these results, it can be completely discouraging. I found myself in the position of having to comfort a friend who was disappointed with their results in the BISQC. They truly did not understand how the jury could have made such decisions. With all of the effort that musicians put into when preparing for a competition, the question remains: is it worth it? If the decisions are subjective and slightly, dare I say it, arbitrary, why go to all that work?
Well, because between the good and the bad of music competitions, there is the beautiful. Now, I will preface this by saying that perhaps the Banff International String Quartet Competition is unique in this aspect. Nonetheless, I have to remark that what I saw was musicians bonding over what we all love - the music. The quartets, with very few exceptions, all got to know each other and some even developed close friendships. These relationships may not have formed without the competition. The collegiality and genuine warmth that the musicians showed each other was simply heartwarming and encouraging for me to witness.
Essentially, the Banff International String Quartet Competition brought together a community of wonderfully talented musicians who were able to bond over their deep love of chamber music. I could not have asked for a more inspiring weekend of music. As a musician, I am now motivated to practise my art more when I return home to Vancouver. Moreover, I am grateful for the new friends that I have made who share the same passion for the great art of music. The Banff International String Quartet Competition is a testament to the power that music has to build community and relationships.
I am deeply sad to leave this magical place but I am grateful that this competition offers musicians a space in which to share their art with the public. What a special week it has been here in Banff!
