HOUSTON- How often do I get to be a judge?

“How about ‘Week in, week out’?” retorted Aurelie Desmarais, the senior director for artistic planning at the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Okay, fair enough. I’m a professional critic, after all. But how often do I get to judge an international competition?

Houston’s annual Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition is unusual, and not just for the name of the lady — a major benefactor, by the way, of the arts in this region — for whom it’s named.

Now in its 33rd year, it’s open to young North American instrumentalists, ages 16 through 29, and international students studying here. They must each memorize two concertos. Ten semi-finalists were selected from 73 applicants, and heard in one long day.

There are three judges: a conductor, an arts manager — and a music critic. It’s a different group each year. My colleagues are Ed Yim, senior VP at IMG Artists, and conductor Robert Franz, who wears assorted hats, including associate conductor here in Houston.

On Thursday, we heard nine performers (one dropped out just before the competition began): four pianists, two violinists, a cellist, a clarinetist, and a marimba player.

I remember competitions — the work involved, the concerns, the penchant of some judges to stop and start in a seemingly sadistic manner, the knowledge that they may just be looking for something else — from my days as a singer, so I’m sympathetic to the performers. I don’t think we were sadistic; they might differ

We chose two pianists, a violinist, and the cellist for the finals. They’ll perform the final round this evening with the orchestra. This time, they’ll choose what to play, and do it all the way through.

I’m looking forward to hearing them.