Music school sponsorship awards from the city of Zurich
Pianist Nathanaël Félix (pop/rock/jazz) and recorder player Tobias Andermatt (classical) are this year's winners of the Zurich Conservatory of Music competition. The prizes were presented by Andrea F.G. Raschèr, President of the MKZ Foundation.
The 20-year-old pianist Nathanaël Félix impressed the jury at the Moods jazz club with his interpretation of the standard "Someday My Prince Will Come" and the composition "Deep Into The Night" by Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara, beating off competition from a trombonist and another pianist, according to the city's press release.
Five young artists qualified for the classical final at the MKZ's own Florhofgasse music center. Among them, 17-year-old recorder player Tobias Andermatt stood out: he won the favor of the jury members with the Sonatina No. 1 by Georg Philipp Telemann, "The Big Baboon" by contemporary composer Paul Leenhouts and "Belicha", a piece written by an anonymous composer from the 14th century. He was joined by two violinists, a dulcimer player and a singer in qualifying for the final competition.
The MKZ sponsorship prizes are awarded annually for "outstanding artistic achievement" and are endowed with CHF 3000 prize money each. This prize money, provided by the MKZ Sponsorship Foundation, is tied to a musical purpose (master classes, CD productions or similar). Foundation President Andrea F.G. Raschèr presented the prizes at both events.