The Australian musician is a student of Itzhak Rashkovsky at London’s Royal College of Music

EmilySunViolin

Australian violinist Emily Sun was awarded the Gold Medal at the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition final held at London’s Cadogan Hall on 1 June. A student of Itzhak Rashkovsky at the Royal College of Music, Sun performed Debussy and Wieniawski with pianist Jennifer Hughes before taking home the £10,000 prize.

Competing with Strings section winner Sun for the top award were the winners of the Keyboard, Wind & Percussion and Singers section finals – pianist Tyler Hay, saxophonist Philip Attard and baritone Henry Neill. Also performing at the event were Ensemble category winners - period string group the Consone Quartet and the Jacquin Trio - who each won £10,000.

‘Emily Sun displayed a refreshing clarity in her performance of Debussy’s astonishing Violin Sonata and really brought through his style, showing true gypsy flair in the final few bars,’ said Geoff Parkin, Director of Arts at the Royal Over-Seas League.

‘Her performance of Wieniawski’s Fantaisie brillante sur des motifs de l’opera Faust de Gounod showed off her virtuosity and sweet tone to the full. This was a performance of real polish and panache and Emily thoroughly deserved her Gold Medal win.’

Held annually, the ROSL solo awards are open to UK and Commonwealth citizens up to the age of 30. Gold Medal award winners since 2000 include bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu, soprano Lucy Crowe, saxophonist Amy Dickson, and cellists John Myerscough and Pei-Sian Ng.

Read: Busch Ensemble wins Royal Over-Seas League Competition 2012

Read: Finzi Quartet receives £10,000 Royal Over-Seas League prize 2010