Bundit Ungrangsee says that being a part of the upcoming final round of the Maazel-Vilar Conductor's Competition is as good as winning.
"I don't have to win — it's already worth it," Ungrangsee said. "You have Lorin Maazel as the chairman of the judges. He's one of the major conductors in the world today — he's the music director of the New York Philharmonic. And other members of the jury are either world-class composers or world-class instrumentalists or world-class conductors.
"Just to be seen by these people is quite prestigious." As one of eight finalists of the Maazel-Vilar Conductors' Competition, Ungrangsee is among the privileged few who will stand before the Orchestra of St. Luke's in Carnegie Hall this week.
Formerly an associate conductor with the Utah Symphony, Ungrangsee explained that this competition is an opportunity that doesn't come along very often. "It's by far the biggest conducting competition ever. There's usually between four and seven conducting competitions a year in the world — mostly in Europe; hardly ever in America.
"This is the first one in America for a long time. But nothing comes close to the size of this competition, the kind of stature and the kind of people involved in the orchestra."
The prize money, he added, is about a year's salary — $45,000. "It's quite a hefty sum, but that's not the main focus here."
Ungrangsee said that Maazel has chosen a smaller repertoire for the contestants to prepare than is required in many other competitions, allowing for better preparation. Each of the eight contestants will conduct a different program, from which four will be eliminated for a final concert.
For the first stage of the final round, Ungrangsee will conduct the first and second movements of Sibelius' Symphony No. 2. After that, Maazel will announce what the programs will be for the final concerts.
"The thing I like about his competition is that they actually spend time looking at the conductors," Ungrangsee said. "They don't just give you 10 minutes and try to decide your future. They give you a good chunk of rehearsal with a really great orchestra. You can do some real work and have them get to know you."
Ungrangsee says that, for their part, the judges will probably focus on innate talent. "Experience isn't a big thing for (Maazel), but I think innate talent is, and your potential as a conductor.
"It's the way you relate to the orchestra, your technique, your musicality, your ideas, your conviction of your ideas, and how you can make a difference once you
stand in front of the orchestra. It's how you can, in any way — by your technique, your persuasion or by your knowledge — change the sound of the orchestra, and be willing to stand for what you believe in. That's what he's looking for."
Since his post with the Utah Symphony, Ungrangsee has been in quite a few competitions, including the 2002 Hungarian TV-Radio International Conductors' Competition, where he was a finalist. He currently resides in Charleston, S.C., where he serves as associate conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
E-mail: rcline@desnews.com