South Korean luthier Min Sung Kim has won first prize at the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Making Competition in Pozna?, Poland. He also took fourth prize for another of his instruments, and won the prize for best set-up. Marcus Klimke from Germany was awarded second prize, plus prizes for workmanship and varnish. Third prize went to Zurich-based maker Ulrike Dederer.

The 39-year-old Min Sung Kim studied violin making in Salt Lake City and then in Cremona, where he has his workshop. Since 2006 he has won medals at competitions in Cremona, Pisogne, Beijing and Mittenwald, and has twice been awarded Certificate of Merit at VSA competitions.

This year's Wieniawski Competition attracted entries from 145 professional makers from 23 countries. The jury was chaired by Roger Hargrave, and comprised makers Roland Baumgartner, Joseph Grubaugh, Norbert Kijanka, Wojciech ?ukasz, Primo Pistoni, Patrick Robin and Jan Špidlen, and violinists Herbert Greenberg, Roman Lasocki and Dima Tkachenko.

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