The first prize of the 36th Irving M. Klein International String Competition, carrying a purse of $13,000, has been awarded to 22-year-old violist YUCHEN LU.  Thousands worldwide watched nine semifinalists via livestream June 5 – 6 compete for cash prizes and performance contracts.  A jury of seven determined the  winners, which were announced June 6th.  The livestreams were produced by the California Music Center, the founder of the Klein.

Yuchen’s winning program included movements from the Bach Cello Suite No. 6, Rochberg’s Sonata for Viola and Piano, the Bartók Viola concerto, and the commissioned work Bagatelles for Strings for solo viola by Sakari Dixon Vanderveer.  Yuchen is pursuing a Masters of Music at the Juilliard School with Carol Rodland.

Second prize went to violinist GRACE HUH, 18.  She currently studies with Ian Swensen at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division.  Grace was also awarded the Pablo Casals prize for Best Performance of Bach.

Third prize was awarded to cellist WILLIAM TAN, 16.  He is a student of Hans Jorgen Jensen, professor of cello at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University.  William also won the prize for Best Performance of the Commissioned Work.

One of two Fourth Prizes went to violinist RIA HONDA, 20. She is a third-year student in the Columbia University – Juilliard School Exchange pursuing a B.A. in Economics and studying violin with Li Lin.

A Fourth Prize was also awarded to violinist SERIN PARK, 17.  Serin currently studies with Catherine Cho in her seventh year at the Juilliard Pre-College Program.

To view the Competition:

Said Klein Artistic Director Mitchell Sardou Klein,  “This year the Klein Competition received more applications that ever before, as dedicated young musicians worldwide redoubled their investment in time with their instruments during Covid.  Our Jury has found that the  level of playing and musicianship has been the highest ever in this year’s event.  Being invited to be a Semifinalist in the Klein Competition was a major achievement.  Our three Finalists (violinist Grace Huh, violist Yuchen Lu and cellist William Tan) are all riveting musical artists with great insight and maturity”.

First prizewinner Yuchen Lu, viola (AnHui, China), is currently studying for his Masters of Music at the Juilliard School with Carol Rodland.  Previously, he studied at the New England Conservatory with Kim Kashkashian.  Now 22, Yuchen went to a high school affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music from 2010-2016, where he studied with Li Sheng.  He won second prize at the Lionel Tertis viola competition.  Yuchen has attended the Morningside Music Bridge summer festival, and was a member of the Seiji Ozawa Orchestra Academy.  Yuchen will attend the Marlboro Music Festival in Summer 2022.

This year’s semifinalists were KEONI BOLDING, viola, 23; RIA HONDA, violin, 20; GRACE HUH, violin, 18; YUCHEN LU, viola, 22; BOBBY PARK, violin, 15; SERIN PARK, violin, 17; SORY PARK, violin, 21; WILLIAM TAN, cello; 16; DYLAN WU, cello, 17. Semifinalists were selected from 128 entrants from 16 countries, ranging in age from 15 to 23.

The jury for the 2021 Competition included Charles Castleman, Glenn Dicterow, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer (2021 Composer), Karen Dreyfus, Daniel Stewart, Ian Swensen, and Barbara Day Turner.

Previous winners of the Klein Competition include Jennifer Koh, Oliver Herbert, Frank Huang, Robert deMaine, Tessa Lark, and David Requiro.  In 2020 violinist Gabrielle Després won first prize.

PRIZES

First Prize ($13,000) goes to 22-year-old violist YUCHEN LU.  It includes performance contracts with the Peninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series, and Music in the Vineyards.

Second Prize ($6,300) goes to violinist GRACE HUH (violin, 18).  It includes performance contracts with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, among others, and is given by Ruth Short in memory of Elaine H. Klein, wife of Irving M. Klein.  For 34 years, Mrs. Klein served on the California Music Center board.

Third Prize goes to WILLIAM TAN (cello, 16).  $2,500 is given by David and Judy Anderson, in memory of Judy’s father, Milton Preves, principal violist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1939 to 1986 and instrumental in developing the basis for the current judging procedures for the Klein.

Fourth Prize ($1,500) goes to RIA HONDA (violin, 20), and is given in memory of Jerry Lee Klein, Irving M. Klein’s younger son.  A Second Fourth Prize ($1,500) goes to SERIN PARK (violin, 17).

Best Performance of the Commissioned Work ($500) named in memory of Allen R. and Susan E. Weiss. goes to WILLIAM TAN (cello, 16).

Pablo Casals Prize ($500) named in memory of Harry Adams, for the best performance of solo Bach, goes to GRACE HUH (violin, 18).

Each Semifinalist not awarded a named prize receives $1,000.

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