This evening the jury of the 2016 Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition will decide the names of the three contestants who will compete in the final round.

In the semi-finals they play Mozart with the Odense Symphony Orchestra, and they will also do the conducting. This is a major challenge, according to Eugen Tichindeleanu, the orchestra’s leader:

“The whole principle of playing without a conductor is to is to see how they see further away from their solo part. This is very large-scale chamber music. They will need to show leading capacities and inspire the orchestra, inspire the audience, and be extremely secure themselves. And it will not be easy!”

During rehearsals for the semi-finals the contestants were able to make suggestions and present their own ideas on how to work on the pieces they’ll be playing with the the Odense Symphony Orchestra.

Tonight will reveal which of the six remaining contestants will secure themselves one of the three places in the finals.