The six finalists of the MIMC will have to play all or nothing Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the concerto round of the competition. They will be accompanied by the Orchestre métropolitain, under the direction of Jean-Philippe Tremblay.

Tuesday June 1, we’ll hear Nikita BORISOGLEBSKY from Russia and Jaeyoung KIM from South Korea in Brahms’ Concerto and Benjamin BEILMAN from the United States in Sibelius’ Concerto. Wednesday, just before the jury’s final deliberation, Kyoko YONEMOTO from Japan in Paganini’s Concerto No. 1, Korbinian ALTENBERGER from Germany in Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 and Noah BENDIX-BALGLEY from the United States in Brahms’ Concerto to perform.

This afternoon and tonight, you are invited to attend masterclasses by two members of the jury: Rodney Friend and Patrice Fontanarosa, at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur.

It is last night, after jury deliberation, that the names of the 12 violonists to advance to the semi-finals stage of the competition were revealed. The two Canadian, Bosom MO (first candidate to be heard tonight) and Nikki CHOOI, are still in the running.

Also on this very select list: Jaeyoung KIM and In Mo YANG from South Korea, Fabiola H. KIM, Noah BENDIX-BALGLEY, Benjamin BEILMAN and Luke HSU from the United States, Nikita BORISOGLEBSKY from Russia, Kristi GJEZI from France, Korbinian ALTENBERGER from Germany and Kyoko YONEMOTO from Japan.

You missed a recital? No problem. You can access them on line on Espace Musique…

Those who know me are well aware that Pachelbel’s Canon is not exactly my favourite piece of music, mainly because it has been so overplayed and I have grown very tired of multiple “new age” variations, all bordering on the unbearable. So, yes, I must admit I was laughing like mad when I viewed this hilarious – but so realistic – stand-up comic number on the (in)famous piece.

Canadian violonist Bosom Mo is the first of the 23 violonists to perform this afternoon at 1 p.m. You can follow it on the Web here.

Detailed schedule is accessible on the MIMC’s official Website.

His life is not all scales and arpeggios, as you can find out in this video…

Over one hundred candidates registered for the preliminary round. 24 of them (9 women and 15 men) are moving on to the following rounds, which will start tomorrow. (Schedule should be confirmed by the end of the day when the official draw is completed.)

Meet tomorrow’s violin stars in this presentation video.