Press Releases & Archived News

THE VERDICT: JUDGE JUDY'S GOT NOTHIN' ON HER

By Valerie Scher
UNION-TRIBUNE CLASSICAL MUSIC CRITIC

May 23, 2004

HOUSTON – As one of the nation's leading multi-instrument contests, the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition is open to musicians between the ages of 19 and 29, who vie for cash prizes and the career-building opportunity of performing with the Houston Symphony. In order to provide varying perspectives in choosing the winners, the panel of judges consists of a conductor, a performing artist and a classical music critic.

This year, I was that critic. And when I agreed to help judge the two-day event on May 14-15, sponsored by the Houston Symphony League at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, I never imagined that it would involve so much pleasure, or drama.

The drama was weather-related. Because of a powerful storm that delayed flights in and out of Houston, it took me five hours to get on a plane in San Diego. The white-knuckle ride included enough lightning flashes for a Halloween strobe show. My fellow judges also faced travel challenges. New York-based pianist Anne-Marie McDermott – a Mainly Mozart favorite – had to catch a 6 a.m. flight on the day of the competition when her earlier flight was canceled. (She was accompanied by a charming canine companion, a 2-year-old female Maltese nicknamed Sammy.) Rather than risk flying delays, the third member of the judging panel – conductor Timothy Muffitt, music director of Louisiana's Baton Rouge Symphony – made the five-hour drive to Houston through torrential rain.

Yet any hardship was amply compensated by the enjoyment of hearing 21 exceptionally gifted musicians play everything from violin and piano to tuba and marimba. Instead of being tiring, the experience was energizing. That feeling continued through the selection of eight finalists and three winners, a process that prompted thoughtful and sometimes-passionate discussion among the judges. If decisions were difficult, it was because of the abundance of talent, not the shortage of it.

Here's who we picked:

 First prize winner: U.S. pianist Michael Mizrahi, a 25-year-old native of Alexandria, Va., who's currently studying for his doctorate in musical arts degree at the Yale School of Music. He received the $5,000 cash award plus a Sept. 7 date with the orchestra at downtown Houston's Jones Hall. The victory was especially sweet for Mizrahi, who didn't progress past the semifinals in last year's competition. "I played a lot better this year," said the curly haired dynamo, whose thrilling performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 reminded this listener of the young Vladimir Ashkenazy. To me, Mizrahi was the most consistent performer, exciting to watch and hear. Mizrahi also wowed audience members, winning the $250 Audience Choice Award.

 Second place: German violinist Tanja Becker-Bender, 26, a native of Stuttgart. Working toward an artist diploma at New York's Juilliard School, she was awarded the $2,500 cash prize and a June 25 performance at the orchestra's summer home, the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston's Hermann Park. Looking like the Uma Thurman of the violin, the tall, striking Becker-Bender displayed highly distinctive if somewhat erratic artistry during Sibelius' Violin Concerto.

 Third place: U.S. clarinetist Bryan Crumpler, 24, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received the $1,000 prize and an invitation to compete again next year. "Lately, I've been doing nothing but competing and trying to get noticed," said the charismatic musician, whose performance of Copland's Clarinet Concerto was classy, jazzy and persuasive, despite some squeaks.

Meanwhile, the judges were given plenty of support. Roger Daily, the Houston Symphony's director of education and community relations, supplied helpful tips for decision-making in the room near the recital hall, where we deliberated. And the women of the Symphony League were virtuosas of Southern hospitality. They created a festive and welcoming atmosphere for the 29th Young Artist Competition, named for Ima Hogg, the pianist-philanthropist who died in 1975, at age 93. Please, no name jokes. Miss Ima, as she was known, was a founder of the Houston Symphony and Houston Symphony League, and remains a revered figure.

The league succeeded in its goal of attracting more contestants to this year's competition. There were 111 taped submissions, up from last year's 88.

"This was the most we've ever had," said competition co-chair Gayle Eury, who worked closely with competition chair Nancy Willerson. "We wanted to make the competition more all-inclusive."

The taped submissions were sent by students born as far away as China, Australia and Brazil, all studying at U.S. music schools (a prerequisite). They were assessed by Houston Symphony members, who selected the semifinalists. The semifinalists performed on the first day of the competition, when the judges had them play portions of the two concertos each had prepared. Being asked to jump from movement to movement was stressful for the contestants, but it was the only way to sample the different parts of the works. (The judges also wrote notes to all the performers, offering comments about their presentations.)

The finalists, selected by the judges, presented the concerto of their choice on the second day. They were given 25 minutes to play it all the way through, without interruption. Since it was impractical to have an orchestra accompany the concertos, the orchestra parts were played by pianists, including the Houston Symphony's skillful Scott Holshouser (a third-place contest winner back in 1977).

All the contestants were assigned numbers. The judges watched and heard the musicians perform, but knew nothing about them – not their names, ages, nationalities, schools nor teachers. We weren't supposed to know anything that might influence our decisions.

Their performances told us what we needed to know about their qualities as musicians. And as I listened to them, I realized that, in terms of talent and dedication, they were all making worthy contributions to the future of classical music.

This article originally appeared in the San Diego Union Tribute and can be found online at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20040523-9999-1a23scher.html

CONCERT REMINDER

For all you lovers of spanish flamenco, I will be appearing as a guest artist with the UNCC Percussion Ensemble performing Carlos Surinach's "Ritmo Jondo" for Clarinet, Trumpet and Percussion. This concert is free and open to the public, so bring a friend or 5.

CRUMPLER WINS 1^st IN NAT'L COMPETITION
On Wed. April 1st 2004, Charlotte Clarinetist Bryan A. Crumpler was named a 1st Prize winner of the 2nd annual New Amsterdam Symphony National Young Artist Competition held in New York City. Based on a CD audition, Crumpler was selected out of nearly 100 musicians from throughout the United States to perform a live audition and captured a 1st Prize win for his performance of Malcolm Arnold's Concerto No. 2 Op 115. Crumpler performed the entire Arnold Concerto in the finals round, held at the St. Peters Church in Chelsea. And as a result, he will be invited back to perform a concerto with the New Amsterdam Symphony during their 2004-05 or 2005-06 season.

KINGSVILLE NO COMPETITION FOR WINDS
The Kingsville International Young Performers Competition, held annually at Texas A&M University at Kingsville, proved itself to be no competition for wind players in this, its 23rd, year of operation. Having only named 2 winds as winners in its 22-year history, many talented wind & brass performers from around the country stuck it out, regardless, battling for top honors only to be shamed effortlessly by Juilliard graduate and virtuoso Marimbist Simon Boyar. Boyar himself was later robbed of the grand prize when stacked against the more traditional instruments of the classical genre, strings and piano. The competition is separated into "Bowed", "Non-bowed", and "Piano" categories and awards over $24,000 in cash prizes and performances to talented young musicians interested in solo performance careers, with this years grand prize going to Maxine Kuo for her performance of Shostakovich's 1st Violin Concerto in A Minor Op. 99. This year's competitions were adjudicated by Frank Cooper (piano), Miguel Salvador (piano), Sidney Harth (violin), Pamela Frame (cello), Nancy Ambrose King (oboe), and Craig Morris (trumpet).

HOUSTON INVITES CRUMPLER TO COMPETE
The Houston Symphony Orchestra recently chose Bryan A. Crumpler as one of approximately 20 international musicians in the US representing over 15 countries to compete in the semi-finals of its 28th, annual Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition held at Rice University in Houston, TX. The prestigious, award-winning competition is chaired by Principal Conductor Laureate Hans Graf along with National Honorary Committe Members Nancy Allen (harp), Misha Dichter (piano), Richard Stoltzman (clarinet), Ralph Kirshbaum (cello), Cho-Liang Lin (violin), Peter Serkin (piano), Janos Starker (cello), Barry Tuckwell (horn), and Ransom Wilson (flute). The competition, considered one of the premiere young artists competitions in the world, spans an entire week at no cost to contestants (aside from travel to and from Houston), and offers $8500 in cash prizes and concert appearances with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. As a part of required repertoire, Crumpler will be performing Aaron Copland's Concerto for Clarinet, Harp, and Strings in its entirety as well as Hindemith's Concerto in A for Clarinet & Orchestra.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Clarinetist Finalist in International Music Competitions

Abstract:
24 y/o Virtuoso Clarinetist Bryan A. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC has been recently named a finalist and semi-finalist in International Young Artists Competitions in New York, Texas, and Boston. He will travel the end of March and throughout April to compete for over $25,000 in cash prizes and concert appearances with symphonies across the country against some of the best young classical musicians in the world. Classical music supporters encouraged to make donations to help defray travel costs.

Article:

CHARLOTTE, NC, March 22, 2004 - For many musicians, making the transition from starving artist to "star" artist is a long, arduous, and seemingly impossible task - even moreso for anyone pursuing a career in the classical genre. One Charlotte clarinetist, however, is breaking through, determined to become the next marquee name for clarinetists and connoiseurs of classical music throughout the world.

24-year old Clarinetist Bryan A. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC has been hackin' away at Clarinet for barely 12.5 years and has steadily been making his mark in the classical music industry as a solo artist since the age of 14, just two years after beginning his instrument.

A decade later, Crumpler continues to make his mark, as he was recently named a finalist in the New Amsterdam Symphony's Young Artist Competition in New York City as well as a semi-finalist in the Kingsville International Young Performers Competition in Kingsville/Corpus Christi, Texas and the Philharmonic Society of Arlington's Young Artist Competition near Boston, MA. Invitations to compete in live semi-final and final rounds for these competitions are based on a taped audition of 30-45 minutes of live, unedited performances, resume/biography, and press clippings from previous performances. He will travel to New York City, Texas, and Boston the end of March and throughout April to compete for over $25,000 in cash prizes and concert appearances with symphonies across the country against some of the best young classical musicians in the world.

Crumpler is also a pending semi-finalist for the Contemporary Record Society's National Performer's Competition and the Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition sponsored by the Houston Symphony Orchestra in May.

Classical music supporters are encouraged to make donations to help defray travel costs for getting to these auditions. Donations of $25 or more will receive a free complimentary CD of Bryan's debut album upon release. Information about how to make donations can be found at www.whosthatguy.com

BIOGRAPHY:
Shadowed in the eyes of not one... not two... but three NFL football players in his family, 24-year old virtuoso clarinetist Bryan A. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC is creeping his way through the crowds to steal the eyes away from the field and direct them to the stage.

An alumni Morehead Scholar and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he has performed to critical acclaim throughout the United States, England, France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. He is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, one of the premiere music fraternities in the country, and has appeared as a soloist and performer with many community and university ensembles local to the state of North Carolina. Crumpler's performances have earned him rave reviews from critics of the Music Critics Association of North America, Raleigh News & Observer, Classical USA, Spectator Magazine, Classical Voice North Carolina, and Fanfare as well as the esteemed recognition of virtuoso artists such as Andrew Marriner (son of Sir. Neville Marriner & Principal Clarinetist of the London Symphony Orchestra) and world renowned virtuoso Charles Neidich of the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music.

His honors include: 1st Prize, New Amsterdam Symphony Nat'l Young Artist Competition ('04); 3rd Place Winds & Stage Deportment, International Sorantin Award Young Artists Competition ('03); 1st place winds/overall top 6 semi-finalist, East West Artists International Competition ('03); 3rd prize, William C. Byrd International Young Artists Competition ('01); 1st prize, Benjamin Kilgore Gibbs Concerto Competition ('00); 1st Prize, UNCSO Concerto Competition ('99-'00); 1st Prize, Richard R. Deas Concerto Competition ('94-'95); Sinfonia Foundations Most Outstanding Musician Award ('95); USMC President's Own Most Outstanding Musician Award ('97); 16 NCBMA Medals for County/District/State Honors Bands & State Honors Orchestras ('92-'97) - 1st chair 4 consecutive years ('94-'97).

Crumpler has studied Clarinet throughout the United States and Europe under the tutelage of Professor Donald L. Oehler and Dr. Michael Votta at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and with distinguished artists Andrew Marriner (London Symphony Orchestra); David Campbell (Canterbury Christ Church College of England); and Freddy Arteel (Royal Conservatory of Ghent). Other artists include Jimmy Gilmore (NC Symphony), Dr. Nathan Williams (East Carolina University/Interlochen Arts Academy), and Todd Palmer (Internationally renowned YCA artist).

Bryan is the son of Gertha W. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC and Carlester Crumpler of Greenville, NC.

FUTURE PERFORMANCES:

April 8, 2004, 8:00pm
Rowe Recital Hall, Charlotte, NC
Ritmo Jondo for Clar, Tpt, & Percussion, C. Surinach
Featured Artist with members of the Charlotte Symphony & the UNCC Percussion Ensemble

April 30, 2004, 8:00pm
Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC
Ritmo Jondo for Clar, Tpt, & Percussion, C. Surinach
Featured Artist with members of the Charlotte Symphony & the UNCC Percussion Ensemble

November 1-5, 2004
Artist Residency, Wilmington, NC
New Hanover County Schools/Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

November 6th, 2004, 8:00pm
Kenan Auditorium, Wilmington, NC
Concerto for Clarinet & Strings, G. Finzi
Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

CONTACT INFO:

Bryan A. Crumpler
http://www.whosthatguy.com

New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra:
http://www.nasorch.org

Kingsville Music Clubs:
http://www.kingsvillemusic.com

Philharmonic Society of Arlington:
http://www.psarlington.org

Contemporary Record Society:
http://www.erols.com/crsnews

Houston Symphony Orchestra League:
http://www.houstonsymphony.org

PRESS PHOTO:
Available for download in the Press Kit at www.whosthatguy.com

WINTER NEWS UPDATE - FEBRUARY 27^th, 2004

Quick Summary

PERFORMANCES SCHEDULED TO DATE - MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

• April 8, 2004, 8:00pm - Rowe Recital Hall, Charlotte, NC (FREE)
  Ritmo Jondo for Clar, Tpt, & Percussion Ensemble, C. Surinach
  Featured with members of the Charlotte Symphony & the UNCC Percussion Ensemble

• November 1-5, 2004 - Artist Residency, Wilmington, NC (FREE)
  New Hanover County Schools/Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

• November 6th, 2004, 8:00pm - Kenan Auditorium, Wilmington, NC
  Concerto for Clarinet & Strings, G. Finzi
  Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

NEXT STOPS ON THE COMPETITION TOUR BUS:

• New York, NY (March 26-28, 2004)
• Kingsville/Corpus Christi, TX (April 1-3, 2004)
• Arlington/Cambridge/Boston, MA (April 23-25, 2004)
• Houston, TX (May 13-16, 2004)

Make room on your couches or at least plan to visit with me... ;-)

COMPETITION UPDATES FOR THE:

• New Amsterdam Symphony National Young Artists Competition
• Kingsville International Young Performers Competition
• Philharmonic Society of Arlington National Concerto Competition
• Ima Hogg Int'l Young Artists Competition
• Contemporary Record Society National Competition
• Young Concert Artists, Inc. International Competition
• Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition
• Concert Artists Guild International Competition

CD UPDATE:

• What's the big hold-up?
• How to get autographed copies.

PERFORMANCES SCHEDULED TO DATE - MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

For all you lovers of spanish flamenco, I will be appearing as a guest artist with the UNCC Percussion Ensemble performing Carlos Surinach's "Ritmo Jondo" for Clarinet, Trumpet and Percussion. This concert is free and open to the public, so bring a friend or 5.

I am doing a week-long artist residency with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra in Wilmington, NC (sorry Delaware fans) starting Nov. 1st and will be giving 10 mini-recitals and masterclasses (primarily at schools) throughout the Wilmington community. These events are free, and a few may be open to the public. More on that later.

If you can't make it to a mini-recital during the week of Nov. 1st, come see me live with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra in Kenan Auditorium on Saturday, Nov. 6th. I will be opening their season performing Gerald Finzi's Concerto for Clarinet and Strings. Ticket infomation is available at http://www.wilmingtonsymphony.org

COMPETITION UPDATE:

For all my New York fans, It's time to take another bite out of the big apple! I am happy to announce that have been officially named a *finalist* in the NASO National Young Artists Competition in New York City. The competition had over 90 applicants & CD entries and I have been one of the fortunate 5 or so in my division selected to perform a live audition. The finals will take place on Saturday, March 27th at the St. Peter's Church (346 W. 20th St). Come out and show your support.

Secondly It's been a rough road since the International Sorantin Competition down Texas, and here I am... makin' my way BACK to the Lonestar State! I have advanced to the Semi-finals for the Kingsville International Young Performers Competition, and will be heading to Texas A&M-Kingsville April 1st - 3rd to compete in the semi-final and final rounds. Everyone pray that we have judges that like "milk duds" and Dutch accents *wink wink*.

For my Baaahstin folk... tell Ben Affleck to make room on his couch... I'm comin' up for a visit. The Philharmonic Society of Arlington's National Young Artists Competition will take place on Saturday, April 24th just outside of Cambrige in Arlington, MA. All competition rounds are live, so there are no preliminary results to report, yet. Wish me the best for when I get there.

On other competitions... I'm currently waiting on preliminary results from the Houston Symphony's Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition and the Contemporary Record Society National Performer's Competition. So everyone keep their fingers crossed. We want good news in the mail!

It's not all good news however. Much to my dismay I was unfortunately eliminated in the preliminary CD round for the Young Concert Artists International Competition, Concert Artists Guild Competition, as well as the Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition. Those are undoubtedly tough competitions, but the judges of the CD round for those competitions could use a thwap on the head. YCA provided no feedback or judges comments. One of the written comments from the Heida Hermanns competition indicated I sounded like a "high school student with a lot of potential" (Unless it was Julian Bliss judging - the 13 year old prodigy - I really wonder what high school students the judge was comparing me to... the laughing may commence). Only one judge from the CAG commented, but the feedback indicated they listened to only one of the 6 tracks on the audition CD (Helpful? Barely).

CD UPDATE:

Yes... I've been talking about this for a while, and the CDs are still not yet available for distribution. I've had my share of roadblocks in this process - slow publishers issuing mechanical licenses etc - but the backbreaking work (the recording) and mixing is done. There weren't many pre-orders, but we're still chompin' away anyway trying to get everything ready ASAP. I appreciate everyone's patience with this project.

HOW TO GET AN AUTOGRAPHED CD:

Many have expressed interest in getting autographed copies of the CD once they become available. The only way to do this is if you purchase a copy directly from me, make a purchase at a concert/recital, or order via PayPal on my website (not via Tower, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks, Target, CDNow, CDStreet etc... they all have their own distribution warehouses). When ordering via PayPal, however, you eliminate the middle man, and everything comes directly to me and from me. All you have to do is indicate in the shipping note to whom it needs to be autographed (Note: Autographed copies will not be repackaged in the shrink wrap etc. before shipping. Also, autographed copies are not returnable unless the CD itself is defective - i.e. does not play - this should not be a problem.)

CRUMPLER TAKES 3^rd AND STAGE DEPORTMENT AWARD IN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION

SAN ANGELO, TX Nov. 23, 2003 - On Nov. 21st and 22nd the San Angelo Symphony held its annual International Sorantin Young Artist Award Competition at Angelo State University (ASU) in San Angelo, Texas.

The competition is touted as one of the premiere, international music competitions in the United States having named winners such as Eric Wyrick, Marta Aznavoorian, and Naoko Takada; and it attracts many musicians local to Texas and Ohio, and others as far away as Japan and Korea.

Over 60 contestants participated in this year's competition, which was organized into instrumental, string, voice, and piano divisions. Winners were awarded cash prizes totaling $9,250, which included a $2000 award for the overall grand prize winner selected to perform in the San Angelo Symphony's 2004-05 concert season.

This year's grand prize was awarded to Russian pianist Anastasia "Nastja" Markina, who enthralled the audience with her blood rushing intensity and orgasmic demeanor while performing Rachmaninov's Pagannini Rhapsody. Markina played with amazing power and technique throughout the competition, and it will be an exciting experience to watch her perform with the San Angelo Symphony in their 2004-05 season. Cellist Sung-Chan Chang of Little Ferry, NJ, winner of the string division, was selected by the judges as the alternate to perform with the symphony in the event Ms. Markina is unable to fulfill her engagement.

The 2003 Prize Winners are as follows:

Grand Prize ($2000 cash award & solo performance with the San Angelo Symphony):
Anastasia Markina, Piano (Russia - Lewisville, TX)

Alternate GP ($500 cash award & backup performance with SAS):
Sung-Chan Chang, Cello (Korea - Little Ferry, NJ)

1^st Prize ($1000 cash award):
Instrumental: Erin Jang, Flute (Korea - Oberlin, OH)
Strings: Sung-Chan Chang, Cello (Korea - Little Ferry, NJ)
Voice: Jennifer Odom, Soprano (USA - San Angelo, TX)
Piano: Anastasia Markina (Russia - Lewisville, TX)

2^nd Prize ($500 cash award):
Instrumental: Laura Rakel, Flute (USA - Denton, TX)
Strings: Tae-Hee Irene Im, Violin (Korea - Oberlin, OH)
Voice: Norman Jr. Garrett, Baritone (USA - Lubbock, TX)
Piano: Diego Rodriguez (Spain - Dallas, TX)

Honorable Mention ($500 cash award):
Diego Rodriguez, Piano (Spain - Dallas, TX)

Stage Deportment ($250 cash award for most effective performance, delivery, & stage presence):
Bryan A. Crumpler, Clarinet (USA - Charlotte, NC)

The competition judges were Anton Miller (Violinist - New York, NY), Gary Hammond (Pianist - New York, NY), George Sakakeeny (Basoonist - Oberlin, OH), Mary Jane Johnson (Vocalist - Amarillo, TX).


For comment from the competition sponsor, contact:

For additional comment from WTG, send all inquiries to pr@whosthatguy.com

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Disclaimer: This release is provided by WhosThatGuy.com and does not reflect the opinions of any person(s) except WhosThatGuy.com. WhosThatGuy.com is the promotional website for Bryan A. Crumpler and serves only to report news to the public pertaining to his musical endeavors.

FALL UPDATE - OCTOBER 23^rd, 2003

The results of the East & West Artists International Auditions in New York were announced today. A huge Thanks goes out to everyone who helped, accommodated, did their little good-luck dances, bowed their heads, and sent me encouraging emails etc. over the weekend. They were most appreciated!

Details about how the competition progressed are at: http://www.whosthatguy.com/?id=news

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Next stop on the competition tour is San Angelo, Texas where I will be competing in the 44th International Sorantin Competition at the Angelo State University. Brief details about the competition and the finals concert on Nov. 22nd are listed on my homepage.

If you'd like to make a donation to help make my way to Texas, see: http://www.whosthatguy.com/index.asp?pg=sp&id=donate

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ACCOMPANISTS STILL NEEDED!!!

I am still on the hunt for accompanists to put together a few audition CDs for upcoming competitions. If you know any good, competent pianists near Charlotte (preferably those with lots of Clarinet repertoire under their belts and in a 2-hour radius), send them my way!

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CD UPDATE

The release of my debut CD has been significantly delayed due to a simultaneous mechanical licensing request made by the American Chamber Ensemble to record Monochrome III shortly before I embarked upon my recording project. With looming concerns that the release of my album would have to be delayed until Jan. 2005, the pre-order system was temporarily deactivated while a recording license from another publisher was being negotiated. A new contract has been received and the album is still a "go" for this fall.

More details on the front page of http://www.whosthatguy.com.

To reserve a copy of the album at a 10% discount with free shipping before the release, visit:

http://www.whosthatguy.com/?id=order

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So, that's all the big news for now. Keep checkin' the website periodically for other updates, and don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything!

Best regards to you all!

Sincerely,

Bryan A. Crumpler

http://www.whosthatguy.com

CRUMPLER TOPS PROMINENT ARTISTS, NOT ENOUGH TO WIN CARNEGIE DEBUT
Competition No-show To Share Stage With Winner

NEW YORK, NY Oct. 22, 2003 - The busy streets of Greenwich Village were blanketed by hints of live music pouring out of the windows of the Renee Weiler Music Hall Oct. 17-19th as young classical artists competed in the annual East and West Artists International Auditions held at the Greenwich House Music School (GHMS) in New York City.

Musicians of virtuoso talent were attracted from all over the world to participate in the competition, which offers the winner a fully sponsored recital in the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall - an intimate, elegant 268-seater gracing the third floor of Carnegie Hall. Participants represented a myriad of countries including England, Poland, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and Canada in addition to the United States just to name a few.

Among the 21 invitees to the competition was twenty-four-year old clarinetist Bryan A. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC who has routinely been making his mark on the classical scene throughout the US and Europe since the age of 15. Crumpler was the top wind performer of the competition, eliminating several prominent artists out of the very first round on the 17th, including world renown flautist Min Park (England) who by reputation and experience proved to be some of the stiffest artistic competition coming into the auditions. Crumpler, however, prevailed and was the only wind player standing among the top 7 semi-finalists, which also included soprano Iwona Sobotka (Poland); violinist Tee Khoon Tang (Singapore); and pianists Brenda Huang (USA), Naoko Takao (Japan), Mimi Soloman (USA), and Edward Chilungu (USA).

On the 18th, the bar was set in the semi-finals as Naoko Takao took the stage to start the round. The sound of 20 hands at the piano glittered throughout the hall. Extremely strong performances by pianists Huang, Soloman, and Chilungu followed, which raised the bar even higher for the acts to follow.

Violinist Tee Khoon Tang of the New England Conservatory then stepped to the stage with pianist Peishan Lee to add more musical brilliance to the evening. Tang played with faultless control and unstaggering sound throughout, filling the secluded halls of GHMS with music into the night.

Next, Crumpler entered Weiler opening with "Gra" ("Game" in Polish), a technically demanding unaccompanied piece written by contemporary composer Elliot Carter. Crumpler was then joined by assisting pianist Yasuko Oura in the third movement of Poulenc's sonata for clarinet & piano and Arthur Benjamin's "Le Tombeau de Ravel - Valse Caprices". "I Got Rhythm" from Harvey's "Suite on Themes of Gershwin" followed, leaving the air blissfully perturbed by the saturation of cacophony resonating from the back-to-back set of contemporary works performed at the jury's request.

Crumpler's performance concluded the evening since the last semi-finalist, Iwona Sobotka (Poland), failed to attend the second round of auditions.

All six of the auditioning semi-finalists gave stellar performances and were certainly deserving of moving on to win the performance at Carnegie. Only three, however, were selected to advance to the finals, which meant the end of the competition for Chilungu, Takao, and Crumpler. Violinist Tee Khoon Tang and pianists Brenda Huang and Mimi Solomon, hence, were left in the top three and were to program 45 minutes of music from the submitted repertoire to complete the final round of the competition.

The finals took place again in Weiler on the evening of Oct. 19th, and each finalist endured a 45-minute audition to be considered for the top prize. Sobotka, though not named in the official voicemail message announcing the finalists, was questionably named as a finalist in the official email announcement circulated by the competition coordinator and was allowed to compete in the finals regardless of not showing to the semi-finals. She certainly redeemed herself in the final round, however, and was officially named co-winner of the 2003 East and West Artists International Auditions along with violinist Tee Khoon Tang, who was also selected by the jury.

As winners of the East and West Artists International Auditions, nineteen year-old Tee Khoon Tang (with pianist Peishan Lee) and twenty-two-year old soprano Iwona Sobotka (with pianist Christopher Cooley) will share a recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in the 2004-05 concert season.

Miss Tang (19) of Geylang, Singapore is a student of Donald Weilerstein and studies at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Her honors include winning the 2001 Shell National Arts Council Arts Scholarship; 1st place winner of the Kocian International Violin Competition; Best Performer Award in the Singapore National Music Competition; 3rd prize in the 2003 Kingsville International Young Performers String Competition, and participation in Aspen, Kirishima, Music Academy of the West, ASEAN Youth music festivals.

Miss Sobotka (22) attends the Fryderyk Chopin Academy in Warsaw, Poland.


For comment from the competition sponsor, contact:

For additional comment from WTG, send all inquiries to pr@whosthatguy.com

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Disclaimer: This release is provided by WhosThatGuy.com and does not reflect the opinions of any person(s) except WhosThatGuy.com. WhosThatGuy.com is the promotional website for Bryan A. Crumpler and serves only to report news to the public pertaining to his musical endeavors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Crumpler One Step Closer to Carnegie Hall

CHARLOTTE, NC, September 24, 2003 - The East and West Artists International Competition recently named virtuoso Bryan A. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC as one of three clarinetists invited to compete live in their annual auditions in New York City. The competition is a three day battle of artistic flair and musical genius from classical artists around the world, each vying for a fully sponsored recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. The live audition rounds will take place Oct. 17 - 19 in New York, where Crumpler will face 20 other critically acclaimed classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and chamber ensembles for the top prize.

"It puts me one step closer to Carnegie Hall," says Crumpler, a step that seems like a light-year leap away for most musicians. However, having been a finalist and top prize winner of the William C. Byrd International Young Artist Competition in 2001, the Benjamin Kilgore Gibbs Competition in 2000, the UNC Symphony Concerto Competition in '99-'00, and the Richard R. Deas Competition in '94-'95, Crumpler's Carnegie Hall debut could be just around the corner.

Other invitees to the competition include The Ibis Trio; The Ft. Lee Saxophone Quartet; sopranos Iwona Sobotka and Jin-Young Jung; clarinetists Rachel Esterwood and Arthur Lukomyansky; cellist Chao-Chun Liu; violinist Tee Khoon Tang; flautist Min Park; and pianists Charlotte Baumgartner, Edward Chilungu, Vicky Chou, Katie Frank, Makiko Hirata, Brenda Huang, Jungwon Jin, Wei-Han Su, Tali Morgulis, Mimi Solomon, and Naoko Takao.

More details about Crumpler are available at www.whosthatguy.com

About Crumpler:
Shadowed in the eyes of not one... not two... but three NFL football players in his family, 24-year old clarinetist Bryan A. Crumpler of Charlotte, NC is creeping his way through the crowds to steal the eyes away from the field and direct them to the stage.

An alumni Morehead Scholar and Computer Science graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he has performed to critical acclaim throughout the United States, England, France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. He is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, one of the premiere music fraternities in the country, and has appeared as a soloist and performer with many community and university ensembles local to the state of North Carolina. Crumpler's performances have earned him rave reviews from critics of the Music Critics Association of North America, Raleigh News & Observer, Classical USA, Spectator Magazine, Classical Voice North Carolina, and Fanfare as well as the esteemed recognition of virtuoso artists such as Charles Neidich, Alan Kay, and Ayako Oshima of the Juilliard School.

Crumpler studied throughout the United States and Europe under the tutelage of Professor Donald L. Oehler and Dr. Michael Votta at the University of North Carolina; and with distinguished artists Andrew Marriner (London Symphony Orchestra); David Campbell (Canterbury Christ Church College of England); and Freddy Arteel (Royal Conservatory of Ghent). Other artists include Jimmy Gilmore (NC Symphony), Dr. Nathan Williams (Interlochen Arts Academy), and internationally reknown clarinetist Todd Palmer.

Crumpler will be releasing his debut CD of 20th century works for clarinet sometime this fall.

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