March 27, 2008 08:00 ET

10 Famous Judges to Search for "Classical" Idols at José Iturbi Music Competition at UCLA June 16-21

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - March 27, 2008) - Daniel Pollack, Bruce Sutherland, Eduardo Delgado, Vladimir Viardo, Oxana Yablonska, David Daniels, Gianna Rolandi, Vladimir Chernov, Marvelee Cariaga and Robin Thompson have been confirmed as the 10 "world class" judges for The 2008 José Iturbi International Music Competition to take place June 16 - 21 in Los Angeles at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall.

April 15 is the application deadline for pianists and singers to compete for the 48 slots in the weeklong competition that adds features of "American Idol" to the world of classical music. Applications may be completed and submitted online at www.joseiturbifoundation.org for the contest offering the largest cash bounty (more than $250,000) of any classical piano and singing competition worldwide. Martin Katz, famed accompanist to singers including Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, José Carreras and David Daniels, will accompany all the finalists in voice on June 20.

"We're delighted that ten world-class performers and educators will serve as the judges for the 2008 José Iturbi International Music Competition," said Donelle Dadigan, President of the José Iturbi Foundation. "In addition to receiving international awards and acclaim as concert talent, each has trained and coached numerous students who have won major music competitions around the world. The José Iturbi Foundation is very excited to see who our judges will pick to be the next new talents in the world of classical music."

The piano judges are:

Daniel Pollack (Chairman) -- a major concert and recording artist, Tchaikovsky competition winner, judge of competitions worldwide, and master teacher and piano professor at USC and of international prize-winning pianists.

Bruce Sutherland -- concert pianist, composer -- whose original work "Allegro Fanfara" was conducted by José Iturbi for its world premiere, teacher of international prize-winning pianists, once a student of Amparo Iturbi.

Eduardo Delgado -- Argentinian prize-winning pianist and recording artist, was the recipient of the 1999 UNESCO medal for his contribution to music in his home country; serves on the faculty at Cal-State Fullerton.

Vladimir Viardo -- Soviet Gold Medal winner of the 1973 Van Cliburn Competition, recording artist, currently on faculty of the University of North Texas where he has trained laureates of the world's major piano competitions.

Oxana Yablonska -- elite piano virtuoso of the Soviet Union, three-time international piano competition winner, much-recorded pianist who won the Grand Prix du Disque from the International Liszt Society in Budapest, professor since 1983 at The Juilliard School of Music in New York.

The vocal judges are:

David Daniels (Chairman) -- famed American countertenor on the opera and recital stage, recording artist named by Grammophone magazine as one of the "Top Ten Trailblazers" in classical music today.

Gianna Rolandi -- Director of the prestigious Young Artist Program of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center and former popular coloratura soprano at New York City's Metropolitan Opera and most major opera houses of the world.

Vladimir Chernov -- Russian baritone of nearly every major international opera house and concert stage, major recording artist of Verdi and Tchaikovsky operas, and great pedagogue, recently appointed Professor of Vocal Studies at UCLA.

Marvelee Cariaga -- Acclaimed singing actress with a mezzo-soprano voice, legendary performance as Magda Sorel in Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Consul" broadcast on PBS-TV for the Spoleto Festival, recital tours of over 1,600 engagements with husband Daniel Cariaga at the piano.

Robin Thompson -- Producing Artistic Director of the New York City Opera, serves as the only American on the jury of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Vienna, Austria, is on the jury of the Competizione dell'Opera in Italy.

For rules and regulations on The José Iturbi International Music Competition 2008 or to submit an application, go to www.joseiturbifoundation.org. Ticket requests are available online for the public to attend all rounds of the competition on a first come first served basis.