The music competition

I have a very strong view on the competition in music:

this is for me absolute nonsense< /em>.

Music is a means of share common joys and sufferings with the largest number. It flourishes in self-sacrifice and the excellence of what humanity has done best. It’s an extraordinary way to do deep work on yourself. Competition is the complete opposite of that.

It dries out, smoothes the playing of musicians< /strong>, depriving them of their singularity by conformity before a jury, or worse , for fear of failing. The candidate forbids himself from playing a personal game, prevents himself from developing as an artist to conform - consciously or not - to a world which thinks in a certain way, excluding the rest. The qualities to be developed to perform well in this format are therefore qualities which are incompatible with the rest of their professional life. We talk about being the best, number one, we build opposition to other candidates, instead of developing qualities of helping others and listening to others. Music becomes a sport, a performance, as if there was only one way to interpret a work.

Having an artistic proposal different from what is expected is then a matter of a huge risk because it will confront us with the opinion of a jury, and therefore indirectly harm us in moving forward in the competition. It’s about squeezing one’s being to fit into a mold.

There are of course exceptions to this, extraordinary people who are revealed by these kinds of events. But for a few successful people, this system wastes a huge number of potential talents, who, not seeing the potential for human development in the work of music, stop at the failure of this absurd exercise.

For me music should be the opposite. We should learn to work together, to collaborate despite our differences. Seek true excellence which is the fulfillment of our being, through the practice of music.

Bela Bartok once said, “Competition is for horses, not artists.”

If there is something I want to defend in the professional musical world is the fact that the development of an accomplished musician does not necessarily have to go through the competition system. Musical work is a total commitment of our being which for me goes far beyond the idea of winning. It should above all be a pleasure and a great joy, first in the many hours of our solitary study of the works, then in sharing with others. And this regardless of our progress on the Path.