ADYM

Abu Dhabi Young Musician - 2023 Competition

After the huge success of ADYM 2022 we are back!

Welcome to the dedicated website for the 2023 Abu Dhabi Young Musician Competition. The event has been designed by a committee of Music teachers uniting together to create this prestigious competition. Abu Dhabi Young Musician is being hosted by the British School Al Khubairat, and seeks to promote and showcase the incredible musical talent from across Abu Dhabi in this week-long Festival.

The competition will be judged by a panel of esteemed musicians from across the globe who will provide constructive feedback to help students progress and shape their performance. There will also be some valuable CPD training and workshops for teachers and students to participate in.

We hope you enjoy browsing the website and we cannot wait to welcome you in 2023.

How the competition works

The competition is open to musicians of school age who are in full-time education within Abu Dhabi.

It is split into 2 classes:

Intermediate for performers of Grade 5-6 standard
Advanced for performers at Grade 7 level and beyond

There are seven different categories:

Piano
Classical/Acoustic Guitar
Brass
Strings
Woodwind
Singing
Rock n Pop (singers and guitarists only)

In Round One of the competition, entrants should choose a piece of at least grade 5 or 6 for intermediate or grade 7 or above for advanced from the ABRSM/Trinity grade syllabus list. The time limit for each performance is 5 minutes. The adjudicators will select a number of performers from each category/class to advance to the Second Round.

In round two, entrants must perform the given set piece for their category, which can be found on the website.

In the Semi-Final entrants can again perform a free choice of piece (at the requisite standard) lasting up to 8 minutes. It is recommended to choose a piece that contrasts to the piece performed in Round One.

Finalists can perform a free programme of pieces lasting up to 10 minutes which may or may not include pieces already performed in the competition.

Progression through the rounds:

Approximately 70% of entries in each class/category will progress through to Round Two
The top 2 in each class/category will be selected to perform in the Semi-final
The top performer in each class/category will be selected to perform in the Final to be crowned Abu Dhabi Young Musician 2022

Rules and Regulations

Entries will only be accepted from students who are in full-time education in Abu Dhabi aged 18 or under on 1 Sept 2022
Late entries will not be accepted
The organisers reserve the right to refuse any incomplete entry or an entry that does not meet the required standards of the competition
Full payment must be made along with the entry form, with the bank receipt uploaded as proof of payment.
A separate payment is required for each entry. Ie, if a student enters on 2 or more instruments, entry fees are required for both instruments
All fees are subject to 5% VAT
Entry fees, once received are non-refundable
Entrants do not need to have passed any exams, but must be of the requisite standard. Teacher/parent discretion is required
Entrants must choose repertoire which reflects the high standards of performance expected in the competition
Vocalists must include repertoire from across the genres (baroque/classical & musical theatre)
Singers and instrumentalists are encouraged to perform a range of repertoire rather than identical pieces in each round
Those selected for the Grand Final may perform repertoire already performed in the competition or may choose new repertoire. However again, repertoire for the final should include contrasting pieces
Performers must provide their own accompanists. The organisers can put you in touch with an accompanist if required. Please indicate this on your entry form
Backing tracks are only permitted in the Rock n Pop category. These will need to be on a USB
Amplifiers, microphones etc may only be used in the Rock n Pop category. Such equipment will be provided
Any performance that runs over the maximum time limit may be terminated by the adjudicators
Repeats may or may not be observed at the entrants’ discretion (eg due to time constraints)
Performances are not expected to be from memory, though this may enhance the overall performance and engagement
All performers will receive short verbal feedback at the end of each round as well as more detailed written comments
The adjudicators’ decisions are final and no discussions will be entered into regarding results
By entering, the applicant, parents, teachers and accompanists confirm that they accept the rules and regulations of the competition

Payment

The cost will be AED 210 (including VAT).
Payment must be made via bank transfer using the below details.
A screenshot/pdf of the payment must be uploaded to the application form.
The invoice and receipt will be sent to the email address the screenshot was received from.

Payment Reference: “PARTICIPANT NAME - ADYM 2023”

Account Name: “AL KHUBAIRAT COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE BRITISH SCHOOL AL KHUBAIRAT)”

Account Number: 01-2431685-01

IBAN: AE240440000001243168501

SWIFT Code: SCBLAEADXXX

Bank Address: Standard Chartered Bank, PO Box 241, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Timeline of events

1 December	Entries open
3 February	Closing date for entries & payments
12-17 March	Abu Dhabi Young Musician Competition

Provisional Schedule

12 March	Round One Instrumental and Vocal (all day)
13 March	Round One Instrumental and Vocal (all day) continued
14 March	Round Two Instrumental and Vocal (all day)
15 March	Staff CPD (Day-time) Intermediate and Advanced Semi-Final (evening)
16 March	Staff CPD (day-time)
17 March	Final (evening)

The schedule will be confirmed by the end of January.

ADYM Application Form 2023

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Set Pieces - Intermediate

Please click the icon to download the PDF scores

Set Pieces - Advanced

Please click the icon to download the PDF scores

ADYM Adjudicators

Klaudia Olboeska - Szymanska

Klaudia Olboeska - Szymanska is a Polish award winning violinist who has been in the UAE since 2016. For the past 20 years Klaudia has performed on prestigious stages across Europe, North America and the Middle East. She was invited to perform in Carnegie Hall in 2014 after winning the first prize in the Judge’s Distinction Award of the American Protege International Music Talent Competition in New York with her piano trio.

Klaudia received her music education at the Zenon Brewski Music School in Warsaw, Poland. She won numerous top awards at the national and international violin competitions as a soloist and chamber music artist. Klaudia holds a masters degree in performing arts from The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw where she studied violin with professor Maria Orzechowska and professor Janusz Kucharski.

Klaudia has been an Adjunct Music Instructor at the New York University in Abu Dhabi since 2018. She frequently performs in many prestigious places across the UAE. Her most recent concerts were held in the New York University Abu Dhabi and the Alliance Fancais Dubai for the UAE Classical Talents Series. In 2018 Klaudia performed Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at the Dubai Opera with the World Doctors Orchestra.

Danny Jones

Danny Jones has been playing the euphonium for almost a decade now and has made a great name for himself on the concert, contest and solo platforms. Whether that be as a multi award winning soloist during his time studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama or performing at Britain’s biggest brass band contests.

Most recently he became a Fellow of the Royal School of Music (FRSM). Prior to this he became a European Champion for the first time with the World’s Number One Brass Band, Cory. He achieved 3rd place at the British Open with Aldbourne Band and performed fantastic solos throughout the year also.

Since joining British Army Band Tidworth in 2020, Danny has been featured as one of the British Army’s leading soloists on each and every one of the band’s concerts.

Not only does he perform with his Army Band and Civilian Band (Aldbourne) throughout the year, when time allows he will deputise with other world class Brass Band’s such as Black Dyke Band, Tredegar Town Band and Flowers Band.

Sonja Park

Sonja Park is an accomplished concert pianist with a passion for performance and teaching. She honed her skills at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, studying piano performance and chamber music with Professor Alexander Jenner, who recognized her incredible talent from an early age.
Throughout her student years, Sonja received numerous awards and scholarships, and her hard work and dedication paid of with wins and finalist placements in prestigious competitions like the Brahms International Music Competition in Austria, Karajan Society, Premio Vittorio Gui, YCAT London and
more. With her musical abilities taking her to venues around the globe, including the Royal Albert Hall, La Scala Milano, Wigmore Hall London, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, it was clear that Sonja's talent knew no bounds. When she moved to Doha, she was invited to open the Katara Cultural Village Opera House,
performing Rachmaninof's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sonja Park has made significant contributions to the development of music in Qatar. As a founding member of the Qatar Music Academy and non-profit foundation Moving Young Artists (MYA), she has provided young musicians with opportunities to grow and develop their talents. She also founded the First Qatar National Music Competition in 2017, which had 700 participants, and the International Chamber Music Concert Series for Peace and Unity in 2018, which aims to bridge the gap between Qatari and European culture, showcasing her
dedication to promoting the arts in Qatar. Currently, Sonja serves as Principal Keyboard with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, where she continues to inspire and educate audiences through her
performances.

Sonja is a Steinway Artist.

Tomasz Gniatkowski

Tomasz Gniatkowski is presently a bassoon tutor with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and the Muscat Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout his career he has amassed a wealth of professional performance experience in his native Poland, the UK and the Middle East.

He graduated from The Chopin University of Music in Warsaw with a master of music diploma in 1998. As a student, Tomasz frequently performed with the Polish Radio Orchestra as principal bassoonist. During this time he also performed with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Warsaw Chamber Opera and Polish National Opera. In 2000 Tomasz was appointed as the principal bassoonist in the National Lebanese Orchestra.

In 2003 Tomasz moved to London to further his studies at the Trinity College of Music on a full scholarship. He completed his studies in 2006 having gained a postgraduate advanced diploma. He was taught by Professor Phillip Turbert, principal of the Orchestra of Age and Enlightenment and The Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique. While in the UK, Tomasz immersed himself in the early music scene, performing as a baroque bassoonist. He achieved solo success in a number of prestigious events and also in partnership with Chris Hartland as The Telemania Ensemble where together they won the Ella Kidney Early Music competition in 2006.

ADYM Awards and Prizes

The following Prizes will be awarded at the Grand Final:

Intermediate Pianist 2023
Advanced Pianist 2023
Intermediate Woodwind Player 2023
Advanced Woodwind Player 2023
Intermediate Strings Player 2023
Advanced Strings Player 2023
Intermediate Brass Player 2023
Advanced Brass Player 2023
Intermediate Acoustic/Classical Guitarist 2023
Advanced Acoustic/Classical Guitarist 2023
Intermediate Singer (classical/musical theatre) 2023
Advanced Singer (classical/musical theatre) 2023
Intermediate Rock n Pop Musician 2023
Advanced Rock n Pop Musician 2023
Overall Runner Up
Abu Dhabi Young Musician of the Year 2023

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Abu Dhabi Young Musician - 2023 Competition

How the competition works

Rules and Regulations

Timeline of events