The violist receives a cash prize and concert opportunities
Andrea Burger from Switzerland has been named the winner of the 2015 Tokyo International Viola Competition. Launched in 2009 as part of Nobuko Imai’s Viola Space festival – dedicated to celebrating the viola, introducing new works for the instrument and fostering young artists – the triennial event is open to candidates of all nationalities up to the age of 30.
Burger receives concert opportunities and a cash prize of 1m Japanese yen (£5,240). A former student of Imai at Geneva University of Music, the 25-year-old has also been a student of Thomas Riebl at the Mozarteum Salzburg, where she won the Lionel Tertis Viola competition in 2014.
Second prize went to Kei Tojo from Japan and third prize to Louise Desjardins from France.
Headed by Imai, who is currently a professor at the Amsterdam Conservatoire, this year’s jury included violist Antoine Tamestit, professor at the Paris Conservatoire; violist Hariolf Schlichtig, professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich; violinist Pamela Frank, professor at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia; and pianist Ichiro Nodaira, professor at Tokyo University of the Arts.
The 2012 Tokyo International Viola Competition was won by Wenting Kang from China.
Subscribe to The Strad or download our digital edition as part of a 30-day free trial. To purchase single issues click here.
No comments yet