30-year-old US-Japanese violinist Mayumi Kanagawa won the top prize of €15,000, plus €3,000 for her performance of a George Enescu sonata
The final round of the George Enescu International Competition violin division was held on 16 September 2024 at Bucharest’s Romanian Athenaeum. The finals saw three violinists perform a a concerto with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Alan Buribayev, following the previous rounds of the competition that began on 7 September.
First prize was awarded to 30-year-old US-Japanese violinist Mayumi Kanagawa, who performed Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3. The Berlin-based violinist received the top prize of €15,000, as well as the Stefan and Valentin Gheorghiu Prize for the best performance of a George Enescu Sonata, worth €3,000.
Kanagawa is currently an ambassador for El Sistema Japan’s new Ribbon project, bringing instruments and music education to children in the foster care system. She performs on the 1725 ’Wilhelmj’ Antonio Stradivari violin, generously loaned by the Nippon Music Foundation.
The youngest finalist by ten years, 13-year-old South Korean violinist Hyeonjeong Lee took second prize of €10,000 with her performance of Brahms Violin Concerto. She also won the Audience Award of €1,000 and the prize for the best performance of the mandatory work of €2,000.
23-year-old Japanese violinist Wakana Kimura performed Bartók Violin Concerto no. 2 and received third prize of €5,000.
Dmitry Sitkovetsky presided over the jury, which comprised Mihaela Martin, Liviu Prunaru, Silvia Marcovici, Shlomo Mintz, Boris Garlitsky, David Halen, Doug Sheldon and Didier de Cottignies.
The results of the violin division follow those of the cello competition, the final of which was held on 10 September and won by Yo Kitamura.
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