The only boy to compete in this year’s senior final, Ziyu He has won first prize at this year’s Menuhin competition with his performance of Dvorak’s Violin Concerto. He, who is 16 and comes from China, has been awarded prize money of £10,000 and a one-year loan of a Stradivarius violin.
A second Stradivarius violin was awarded on loan to 13-year-old Kevin Miura, winner of the new Award for Outstanding Potential. Miura also won the audience prize, and second prize in the Junior section.
Twelve-year-old Yesong Sophie Lee won the junior final. The young American was awarded £5000 and the loan of a ‘fine old Italian violin’ made by Guarnieri Del Gesu.
Forty-four contestants aged 12-20 competed over 11 days in this year’s Menuhin competition, held in London. The jury included five former winners of the competition – Julia Fischer, Ray Chen, Tasmin Little, Ning Feng and Joji Hattori – as well as Yehudi Menuhin’s son, pianist Jeremy Menuhin.
Launched in 1983 and held in venues across the world, the Menuhin competition, which is open to players under the age of 22, has a notable track record of uncovering the stars of tomorrow - the likes of Corina Belcea, Nicolaj Znaider and Alina Ibragimova have all enjoyed success at it. The next competition will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2018.