Following outstanding performances in the preliminary rounds, featuring works by composers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Igor Stravinsky and Jacques Ibert, Jen-Jen Liu impressed in the Final as conductor of the Royal Military Band ‘Johan Willem Friso’ with ‘Danse Funambulesque’ by Jules Strens. He thus impressively continued his run of international success following his competition victories for symphony orchestras in Thessaloniki and Berlin.
With this success, Prof. Maurice Hamers’ Chair of Wind Band Conducting, now in its 26th year, once again underlines its globally recognised reputation as a leading educational institution for conductors.
“It’s rare to encounter such dedication to the art of conducting,” says Hamers. “Jen-Jen is incredibly talented musically, has superb conducting technique, and is a very pleasant person who really motivates the orchestra. He copes well with pressure and is very courageous and passionate. For instance, he conducted the final piece without a score. Not only did he know the final piece – one of the most demanding works for symphonic wind orchestra – by heart, but he also knew all the competition pieces from every round by heart.”
LMC students reach the final once again
This was the third time that a student from Augsburg has reached the Final of the WMC conducting competition. On their two previous appearances in the Final, the Augsburg representatives, Mathias Wehr and Tristan Uth, each won a Silver Baton.
According to Hamers, winning the Golden Baton is also of particular significance for the education of professional conductors in Germany. “Jen-Jen Liu is the first conductor to have studied, or to be currently studying, at a German university to have won the Golden Baton at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade.”
Held every four years, the World Music Contest, with around 350,000 visitors and some 20,000 musicians from all over the world, is regarded as the most important event in the world of symphonic wind music.
