Double coup for LDSM
Friday, 4 March 2011
James Ballieu, who will be appearing at this year's Lake District Summer Music International Festival, has just scooped the piano prize at the Das Lied International Song Competition - for the second time!
James will be performing at LDSM 2011 with baritone Njabulo Madlala. A fellow South African, Njabulo won the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier competition in 2010. Their concert for LDSM is on Saturday 6 August at 3pm in Ambleside Parish Centre as one of two "Rising Stars" concerts in the 2011 Lake District Summer Music International Festival.
LDSM's Rising Star series was created by Artistic Director Renna Kellaway to profile major competition winners. Many previous performers in the series have risen to distinguished careers and include mezzo soprano Wendy Dawn Thompson, Quatuor Ebène and the Sacconi Quartet, pianists Steven Osborne and Mizuko Kano, cellist Philip Higham and violinist Jiafeng Chen.
The cash prizes offered by international competitions can be very considerable, but the silver lining of engagements to perform in great concert halls, opera houses, and festivals can lead to long and distinguished international careers.
The full Lake District Summer Music International Festival programme, which runs from 29 July to 14 August, will be announced on Wednesday 6 April at 6pm. For a list of artists and highlights see our 2011 Preview.
