The 25th edition with 19 top ensembles from England, France, Poland, Denmark, Romania, Belgium, Russia, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands is already over. A very special word of welcome to the representatives of the EMCY who organized their annual conference in Heerlen 16-19th of April. Because of the Icelandic vulcano ashes not all representatives couls be present.
Also our former winner, the Renaissance Quartet, was stuck at the airport in Romania.
However, competition, finals, masterclasses, workshops, lectures and extra jubilee concerts made it a marvellous week.
It was a feast of chamber music in Heerlen for over 2500 spectators in the theatre, 70 participants in the competition and the more than 100 extra artists.
RESULTS String ensembles :
1. Zaïde Quartet (France)
2. Nightingale String Quartet (Denmark)
RESULTS Piano ensembles :
1. not awarded
2. Aramis Trio (Germany) en Trio Con Spirito (Germany)
Founded as an extra activity for the 75 year jubilee of Musicschool Heerlen, in the past decades the Charles Hennen Concours(CHC) has grown into one of the most important musical events in Heerlen, and more recently also in Parkstad Limburg. For the fans of chamber music and for the young professional musicians it became an international high position in Europe.
This International Chambermusic Competition for String- and Pianoensembles marks itsself with a high level of music and organization. Recently qualified musicians and almost qualified musicians (young professionals) from all over Europe come to Heerlen every year to include this competition on their personal record. This competition figures prominantly on the calendar of the EMCY-organisation (European Music Competition for Youth). Prizewinners of this competition may perform at big international stages and during big events.
In 2010 the competition will be splitt up in 2 categories for the first time: For stringensembles (violin-viola-cello) en stringensembles with piano of 3-4 musicians separate 1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded!
Besides the absolute top of the young professionals CHC also pays attention to the younger agecategories, right up to the more recent students of a musicschool. Quality and level will be preserved by a competent and international jury. Musicians and specialist teachers from all over Europe who will also give a workshop for the participating musicians.
Annually hundreds connoisseurs of music par excellence gather in SCHUNCK* Glaspaleis, Theater Heerlen, Theater Kerkrade and Musicschool Hoensbroek. And since more recent years also in the region of Parkstad, due to the start up of StringsPlus.
The general-interest has increased due to the annual, often live, broadcasts of the classical station Radio 4 and the coverages of the Limburgian tv-stations TV Limburg and L1 TV.