JAVS Spring 2025

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Reflections from the 2025 Tertis & Aronowitz Competitions by Karin Dolman

A journey to remember!

orchestra, and though his cadenza was brief, it included some delightful twists. His Lachrimae was particularly moving, with a refined tone and a deep sense of the piece’s overall narrative. Xunyu Zhou closed the Aronowitz finals with a masterful Hoffmeister performance. Her cadenza was intricate, blending harmonic depth with virtuosic flourishes. Zhou’s playing revealed maturity beyond her years, honed by her studies in Berlin under Tabea Zimmermann. Her Lachrimae was flawless-both technically impeccable and emotionally resonant. The Tertis Competition: A Symphony of Mastery Between the competitions, there was time to network-a crucial aspect of events like this. Conversations about music, research, and education, alongside the exchange of ideas and contacts, help us all grow as musicians and educators. The Tertis final was highly anticipated, not just by the audience but by the orchestra as well, as they tackled three remarkable concertos. The French horns must have particularly enjoyed their many solos! Sam Rosenthal opened with York Bowen’s Viola Concerto, a symphonically grand work with full orchestration, including three percussionists. The concerto’s magical opening was like stepping into a new Harry Potter film, immediately drawing us into the story. Sam delivered a captivating performance, leading us through a journey filled with adventure and wonder. It’s a demanding piece, requiring the soloist to maintain prominence over the orchestra’s rich textures, but Sam met the challenge brilliantly. After their performances, we had to wait until the conclusion of the Tertis Competition for the results.

Sunday, January 26, 2025, began with a stunning sunrise and the lingering echoes of an unforgettable finale for both the Tertis and Aronowitz competitions. If ever there was any doubt, the viola has proven itself not a swan that emerged from an ugly duckling, but a swan all along. The previous day, the skies had cleared after storm Eowyn swept across northern England. I took the opportunity to hop on a train for a brief visit to nearby Durham, home to the magnificent Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle and university were equally awe inspiring, reminding me of the importance of embracing the surroundings when attending an event. Returning refreshed, I was ready to listen with renewed focus to the Aronowitz Competition finals, performed with the Royal Northern Sinfonia conducted by Thomas Zehetmair. The three finalists, Jackson Hill, Jaeyun Han, and Xunyu Zhou , each played the Hoffmeister or Stamitz concertos, as well as Lachrimae by Benjamin Britten, arranged for string orchestra. The self-composed cadenzas added a unique personal touch, brimming with creativity. It was heartening to hear that those eliminated earlier in the competition had played their cadenzas for one another on Friday’s beautiful show of camaraderie. Jackson Hill opened the finals with Hoffmeister. His cadenza began by developing the concerto’s main theme and caught us off guard with a surprise extension when we thought it was over. His interpretation of Britten’s Lachrimae showed a deep understanding of its structure, particularly in the pizzicato variations, which he brought to the forefront with clear direction.

Jaeyun Han followed with Stamitz. His assured performance showcased a strong rapport with the

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 41, No. 1, Spring 2025

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