Marc Sabbah took the €500 first prize at the third Amsterdam National Viola Competition, held in the Dutch city on 7 and 8 March. The 25-year-old (left), who was born in New York City, US, performed works by Bach and Shostakovich in the final. He is currently based in Brussels, where he performs with the National Orchestra of Belgium.

Second prize (€200) went to 24-year-old Aurora Cano, originally from Seville, Spain. The hird prize of €100 was split between Dutch violist Léon van den Berg, 21, and Laura Rayén Escanilla Rivera (25, from Germany).

Fourteen violists took part in the competition, which ran as part of the Amsterdam Viola Festival.

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