“Orange prizes for young musicians” are on

Bucharest, 18 March 2008: Orange is relaunching the “looking for Enescu” classical music competition under a new name: “Orange prizes for young musicians”. By changing the competition’s name, Orange is looking to express clearly and simply the purpose and meaning of an event that's fully dedicated to young musicians. On this occasion, Orange is also launching a new competition logo designed together with Tempo Advertising.

Looking for new talent this year starts with the opening of new competition categories which young musicians can sign up for: string instruments, piano and singing. Musicians aged 14 to 19 can compete in the string instruments and piano categories, provided that they are not students on the date they sign up, and singing contestants must be aged between 16 and 21.

The “Orange prizes for young musicians” competition begins on 30 March and has three stages. The first stage includes sign-up and preselection, while in the second stage qualified contestants are auditioned and preselected.  Final nominations will take place in October and will end, as usual, with a gala concert where virtuoso finalists will perform and receive their prizes.

Young musicians can find information regarding the event in materials distributed through music high schools, government education offices and at www.auditie.ro.

Contestants can win the 5,000 euro first prize, a second prize of 2,500 euros or the third prize of 1,500 euros. The prizes are awarded for each category.

“We’re proud that last year’s violin finalist, Stefan Besan, confirmed his artistic value and this year he's representing Romania at Eurovision - the classical music contest for young musicians", said Richard Moat, Orange Romania CEO.

The violinist Stefan Besan said: “For me, this competition represented an opportunity to compete with other young musicians, it was an opportunity to express myself and to prove that I’m one of the best".

Pier Giorgio Calabria, member of last year’s jury and a conductor renowned for his performances at the Chicago Opera, says: “I think we’ve achieved our main goal of providing support to the contestants through our observations and by creating a bridge between the two sides: today’s musicians and those of us who were contestants at one time and are now part of the jury".

“Taking part in the Orange competition gives young Romanian musicians an opportunity not only to win substantial prizes, but also to gain experience in an open, objective competition, in an interactive artistic environment”, said Mihail Ghiga, university lecturer and doctor at the Bucharest National Music University.