Bertie Baigent wins first International Conducting Competition Rotterdam

The International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) has announced its first ever winner. Bertie Baigent was awarded the competition’s Grand Prix on Friday (3 June).

Friday’s final, held at Rotterdam’s De Doelen concert hall, saw all six finalists conduct the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra for a jury including conductors Lahav Shani, Karina Canellakis, Ton Koopman, Sophie de Lint, Anja Bihlmaier and Ed Spanjaard.

Jury chair and artistic and executive director of the Ojai Music Festival Ara Guzelimian said: ‘The unique format of the ICCR chooses six young conductors and allows them to focus on their designated repertoire many months in advance. The competition itself allows them to work in a remarkably wide variety of repertoire and with several superb ensembles over a two-week period. True to music itself, the ICCR gives these young conductors the gift of time.’

As well as winning the Grand Prix for best all-rounder Baigent also won the Classical Music and Great Symphonic Works categories, winning a total of €30,000 in prize money. Each category winner was awarded €7,500 with the Proms Open Air Concert prize going to Martijn Dendievel, Chloe Rooke receiving the Contemporary Music prize and Luis Toro Araya winning in the Opera category. Araya also won the Kersjes Audience Award (€10,000), voted for by both in-person and online audiences.

In this it’s first year, the competition received 165 applications from all over the world. Starting on 26 May entrants competed across five themed rounds, performing with several orchestras and ensembles including the Laurens Symphony Choir and singers from the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch.

You can find out more about the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam here