Angela Chan and Jacques Forestier share the top cash prize of €30,000, with all three finalists sharing a wealth of special prizes
The finals of the 12th Joseph Joachim Violin Competition were held on Saturday 28 September at the NDR Konzerthaus (Großer Sendesaal) in Hanover. Three contestants performed a concerto and the competition’s commissioned piece, Feder by Enno Poppe, with the NDR Radiophilharmonie and Stephan Zilias.
Following the performances, shared first prize was awarded to Angela Chan (27, Hong Kong) and Jacques Forestier (19, Canada). The two violinists will share the top cash prize of €30,000 and receive €15,000 each.
Kyumin Park (27, South Korea), also performed in the final. Along with Chan and Forestier, all three violinists received €10,000 for reaching the final, as well as the title ‘Laureates of the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition.’
Numerous special prizes were also awarded. Forestier will record a debut album with Warner Classics for worldwide promotion and distribution. He also received a three-year loan of a 1765 Guadagnini violin, courtesy of the Fritz Behrens Stiftung, as well as the audience prize worth €2,000.
Chan received €5,000 for the best interpretation of the commissioned work Feder by Enno Poppe. G.Henle Verlag awarded sheet music vouchers and a monetary prize totalling €2,000 to Park.
Semi-finalist Louisa Staples (24, UK) received the chamber music prize of €3,000 from the Kuss Quartet, plus a scholarship from karsten witt music-management GmbH for a music management course at the kwmm Academy. Two participants will be invited to a masterclass at Kronberg Academy.
29 concert partners have offered future concert engagements and perfromance opportunities to the contestants.
’We are delighted to be able to honour two young personalities with the main prize, combining technical perfection and charisma. I warmly congratulate Angela Chan and Jacques Forestier,’ said Lavinia Francke, general secretary of the organising Stiftung Niedersachsen.
’I would like to thank all 21 participants, all partners, the jury, the artistic directorship, Antje Weithaas and Oliver Wille, and everyone involved for their commitment and trust in the competition.’
The jury consisted of Juliane Banse (chair), Lorenza Borrani, Liza Ferschtman, Kim Kashkashian, András Keller, Gidon Kremer, Alexander Lonquich, Feng Ning, Kathrin Rabus and Stephan Zilias.
’Competitions can only ever be snapshots. Over the past two weeks, we have got to know up-and-coming young personalities and their great musical potential. We are delighted to be able to follow their future paths now,’ said Antje Weithaas, artistic director of the competition.
The Joseph Joachim Violin Competition has been organised every three years since 1991 by the Stiftung Niedersachsen. The previous edition, held in 2021, was won by Maria Ioudenitch.
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