Those in the audience could feel the electricity in the air. One by one they came out onto the recital stage to play the same piece, the Osborne Rhapsody for solo bassoon; onto the bare stage --just a music stand (optional), their bassoon (or basson), themselves, and their musicianship. One by one in alphabetical order they had to play a composition for an audience of their peers--for fellow bassoonists who knew every note of the music they were about to play. No orchestra, ensemble, or even a piano to "hide" behind, this was it --the final round of the IDRS Gillet Bassoon Competition, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, Wednesday, August 17th, 1983, 11:00 a.m. One by one they came out, Cynthia Cioffari, Jeffrey Keesecker, Sylvain Lhuissier, Peter Lutek, and David McGill, and they showed us what a bright future is in store for the bassoon as we approach the end of our century.
It was truly exciting to experience this event. It struck me afterward that the significance was twofold. The first was the thrill of watching David McGill, the eventual winner, fulfill a promise he had made two years before when he had come in 2nd place at the first competition in Lubbock in 1981: "I'm coming back next time to win this thing!" And he deserved to win. He was definitely best on that day. But it was no runaway. That's why the judges had chosen all five semi-finalists for the finals rather than the customary three. From first to fifth was not all that different. Each had the capacity to win it--so high was the quality of their collective musicianship.
The other exciting aspect of the competition was its truly international flavor. Besides the three Americans, Cioffari, Keesecker, and McGill, there was Sylvain Lhuissier from France playing the French-system basson, and Peter Lutek from Canada capable of great artistry on both the Heckel and the Buffet. And all of them were still just kids. Here was Sylvain playing with such mature musicianship--the same "kid" who had been "cannon-balling" us in the Cash Residence Hall swimming pool the night before! And here was Peter playing so beautifully in the Bolero on the Allard concert on his Buffet after he had played only on the Heckel in the competition. The others too displayed such fine artistry. Jeff Keesecker had improved incredibly since his appearance in the semi-finals at Lubbock. And Cynthia, making her first appearance at an international competition, played with a masterly musical touch that one could certainly not predict from her beautiful, youthful appearance. And finally what can one say of David McGill besides the fact that he is one of the great bassoonists, one of the great musicians of his time? With still one year to go at the Curtis Institute under Sol Schoenbach's careful guidance, he already displays complete command of his musical world.
When I think of all the good things that the IDRS has done for the world of the oboe and the bassoon over the years, this has to be one of the best: To provide a showcase for our young talent--a window to the future--through which we of the past and present can peer and from time to time ". . . gaze in silent wonder at the stars. "
Ronald Klimko
Paris, Sept. 1983