Contrary to prior information, the finalists of the Helsinki International Big Band Composing Contest 2023 will be announced with a few days delay. Originally, the finalists were to be announced on Friday, August 25. The competition committee has decided to delay the results due to the illness of a jury member. The finalists will be announced after two anonymous pre-qualification rounds on the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s website umohelsinki.fi on Wednesday, August 30.
This year’s competition was limited to European or Europe-based composers with no age limit. 76 participants from 24 countries entered the competition. The age range of composers is wide; the youngest participant is 17 and the oldest 74.
The competition jury includes UMO’s artistic director and chief conductor Ed Partyka (head of jury), British pianist, composer and conductor Nikki Iles and Finnish saxophonist, composer and conductor Eero Koivistoinen.
The UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will play the selected compositions in the final concert with conductor Antti Rissanen at Malmitalo, Helsinki, on Thursday October 5, 2023, at 6 pm. The contest is organized and produced by the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Finnish Big Band Association.
Information about the final concert
Photo: Heikki Kynsijärvi