I always find it a pleasure to hear young musicians and the televised
final of this competition was very enjoyable.  "Young" in this case means
younger than 26.  The four finalists were all women.  Ignoring the question
of whether it's possible or indeed desirable to attempt to compare the
relative merits of a violinist, a soprano, a pianist and a percussionist,
there was some terrific music making on show.  For my money, the highlights
were the pianist, a diminutive 17-year-old who tore the place up with
the Rachmaninov Paganini Rhapsody, and the percussionist, who won the
competition playing a percussion concerto by Schwantner.  It's worth
mentioning that the winner a few years ago was also a percussionist.
When you experience young musicians showing such talent and confidence,
the gloomy prognoses for CM seem somehow less threatening.

Schwantner was identified as an American composer.  I'd like to know more,
please.

Richard Pennycuick
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