EUROPAfest
Encyclopedia
EUROPAfest is an international music festival
held each spring, between 7–13 May, in Bucharest
, Romania
. The festival is considered a country brand being the only one in Europe
which presents 4 music genres in a singular event: jazz
, blues
, pop
and classical music
, bringing together top bands and classical musicians from 45 countries around the globe . During the week, many cultural events take place, including competitions, workshops, master-classes, jam sessions and concerts.
Starting 2005 the festival is developed under the High Patronage of Their Royal Highnesses Princess Margarita
and Prince Radu .
In 2010, the festival gathered in Bucharest more than 250 musicians from 40 countries.
The festival starts on the 7 of May, on Europe's DayMusic festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
held each spring, between 7–13 May, in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The festival is considered a country brand being the only one in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
which presents 4 music genres in a singular event: jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, bringing together top bands and classical musicians from 45 countries around the globe . During the week, many cultural events take place, including competitions, workshops, master-classes, jam sessions and concerts.
History
The festival concept was born in 1993. At first it was called Jeunesses Musicales International Festival and it hosted only classical music events, but the whole idea of the festival was changed in 2002. Together with the new name of EUROPAfest, three more music genres were added to the festival's agenda: jazz, blues and pop. It increased its popularity, being regarded as a cultural event that combines 4 different music styles, different cultures, various mentalities and life styles. The organizers grant students free entrance to some of the festival’s events.Starting 2005 the festival is developed under the High Patronage of Their Royal Highnesses Princess Margarita
Princess Margarita of Romania
Princess Margarita of Romania , also styled as Crown Princess of Romania, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, former Princess of Hohenzollern, is the eldest daughter of Michael I , King of Romania , former Prince of Hohenzollern, and of his wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma...
and Prince Radu .
In 2010, the festival gathered in Bucharest more than 250 musicians from 40 countries.
Opening concert – Europe Day
Bucharest International Jazz CompetitionEurope Day
In Europe, Europe Day is an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. There are two separate designations of Europe Day: 5 May for the Council of Europe, and 9 May for the European Union...
. Besides the European celebration, the Opening Gala includes performances of famous international artists, speeches of public life and diplomatic personalities and a presentation of the program for the following days.
Bucharest International Jazz Competition
In 2007, The International Jazz Competition was introduced and its 1st edition registered 30 bands from 25 countries. It became an essential part of the festival, being the only jazz competition in the South Eastern Europe.Instrumentalists and vocalists aged up to 35, from all over the world, can participate in the contest. They play jazz music in front of a large audience, while the jury members listen to them. On its last edition, the competition took place in the Auditorium Hall, within the premises of the Royal Palace
National Museum of Art of Romania
The National Museum of Art of Romania is located in the former royal palace in Revolution Square, central Bucharest, Romania, completed in 1937...
, and at the Art Center Tinerimea Romana.
Jeunesses International Music Competition
Jeunesses International Music CompetitionViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
. It accepts 4 age categories: from the youngest 5–6 years old players to the master category which includes competitors between 18–30 years old. Usually, the competition is gathering around 100 musicians from 35-40 countries. The jury is made up of distinguished professors and international performers who grant a fair and objective designation of the winners. The prize-winners have priority in being included in programs organized both nationally and abroad (Prize-winners Tour, PROMS etc.).
For 2010, the discipline was piano and for 2011, flute players are expected to register in the competition.
Jam sessions & workshops
Each year, jam sessionJam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
s are organized between competitors and already famous jazz players.
Both jazz and classical music performers can attend various workshop
Workshop
A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods...
s organized by international specialists. At these seminars, the young artists have the chance to work on the parts they've misplayed during the competition or learn new playing tricks from their professors.
Jazz, blues & pop concerts
Caffe FestivalCaffe Festival
Caffe Festival introduces the idea of concerts taking place in unconventional venues. Each night, during the festival, concerts of jazz, blues or pop take place in pubs, clubs, coffee houses or terraces. The performers are special guests of the festival. In the past years, Caffe Festival was held in Hard Rock CafeHard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
Bucharest, Clubul Taranului or Cafe L'Estaminet.
EUROPAfest Gala
In the last day of the festival, May 13, the Gala brings together all its participants and names the winners for both competitions. The night culminates with individual great performances and jam sessions which also bring to an end the week of jazz, blues, pop and classical music. During the event, a special moment is represented by the awarding of the Royal House of RomaniaRomanian Royal Family
The current Romanian royal family , an integral part of the larger royal house of Romania, consists of the family of King Michael I of Romania who bear a royal title...
Diploma to a company which supported the culture by being partner of the festival.
Artists
During the 17 years of consecutive editions, the festival gathered many notable artists from all over the world .2010
- Orchestra da Tre Soldi / ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- Stelzhamma / AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
- Parafusions / Italy, HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
- Saxest & Siim Aimla / EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
- Milo Suchomel Quartet / SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
- QL / Romania
2009
- Radio String Quartet Vienna & Klaus Paier / Austria
- VJB / U.K.
- Trio ELF / GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Stelzhamma / Austria
- Chabliz / The Netherlands
- Marcian Petrescu & Trenul de Noapte / Romania
- Anne Czichowsky & Jazzpartout / Germany
- Sidesteps / Austria
2008
- Vincent's Chair Trio / AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Marco Castelli Quartet / Italy
- Mildreds / CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
- Roberto Magris Jazz Quartet / Italy
- Blues Radio Budapest / Hungary
- Davide Panozzo Band / Italy
2007
- Blues Radio Budapest / Hungary
- Ximo Tebar & Ester Andujar / SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- Antonio Flinta Trio / Italy
- Larry Franco Quartet / Italy
See also
- List of jazz festivals
- Festivals in Romania
- List of classical music competitions
- List of music festivals