The competition, dedicated to three age categories, was held in Weimar from 29 October to 7 November
The eleventh edition of the Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists was held by the Franz Liszt University of Music Weimar from 29 October to 7 November.
The competition was divided into three categories: Category 1 (candidates born 2013 or younger), Category 2 (born 2010–2012) and Category 3 (born 2005–2009). Following two initial live rounds, each category’s finalists performed a concerto with the Orchestra of the Franz Liszt University of Music Weimar, conducted by Ekart Wycik.
Category 1 finalists performed Mozart Violin Concerto no.3 in G major, KV 216, while Category 2 and 3 finalists performed Bruch Violin Concerto no.1 in G minor and Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor respectively.
First prize in Category 1 was awarded to South Korean violinist Suhyeon Baek (b.2013), who received €1,750. She also received the €500 special prize for the best interpretation of a violin concerto and the EMCY prize.
Second prize was awarded to South Korean violinist Woo Soo Hyeon, who received €1,250, while third prize of €1,000 went to Chinese violinist Chunxi Liu, who also received the special prize for the best interpretation of a virtuoso work, worth €500.
In Category 2, first prize of €2,500 went to 14-year-old Australian violinist Jayda Lu, who also received the EMCY prize. Second prize of €1,750 went to Chinese violinist Baiyi Tao, while third prize of €1,250 went to 14-year-old Israeli violinist Shira Fuchs.
In Category 3, first prize of €3,500 was awarded to Chinese violinist Jiachen Cao (b.2006), who also received the €500 special prize for the best interpretation of a sonata by Beethoven or Mozart. Lithuanian violinist Rokas Diržys (b.2008) won second prize of €2,500, while Polish violinist Zoja Syguda (b.2009) won third prize of €1,500.
Qingyuan Yang in Category 2 won the €500 special prize for the best interpretation of a work composed after 1950, while Laura Berec in Category 3 also won special prize for the best interpretation of a work composed after 1950, plus the scholarship for participation in the Weimar Masterclasses. Ray Yamagata in Category 1 won the special prize for outstanding achievements.
Follow-up concerts are planned for the prizewinners, both as recitals and with orchestras.
The jury was chaired by Friedemann Eichhorn and comprised Nicola Bruzzo, Eszter Haffner, Koh Gabriel Kameda, Christel Lee, Alissa Margulis, Svetlana Makarova and Lucie Robert.
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