Inaugural Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition Announces Winners

Isaac Stern International Violin Competition

SHANGHAI, Sept. 6, 2016 After three weeks of inspiring performances from 24 of the finest, young violinists from around the world, the inaugural Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition announces winners at Shanghai Symphony Hall:

• First Prize: Mayu Kishima, (Japan) – $100,000 and performance contracts with top symphony orchestras from around the world
• Second Prize: Sergei Dogadin, (Russia) – $50,000
• Third Prize: Sirena Huang, (United States) – $25,000
• Fourth Prize: Stefan Tarara, (Germany) – $5,000
• Fifth Prize: Richard Lin, (United States) – $5,000
• Sixth Prize: Ming Liu, (China) – $5,000

Special Awards for Humanitarian Leadership and Chinese Performance

ISAAC STERN HUMAN SPIRIT AWARDS (2): Taixiang Wu and Zhengquan Du of The Einstein Orchestra (China) and Negin Khpalwak (Afghanistan) – given to individuals or organizations “deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to our understanding of humanity through the medium of music.” Prize winners were selected by the chair of the competition’s organisation committee Long Yu, Yo-Yo Ma, and members of the Stern family. Both received an award of USD $10,000.

China Pacific Insurance Group Award: Ji Won Song (South Korea) – awarded for best performance of “The Butterfly Lovers” violin concerto – received an award of USD $10,000.

Innovative Structure Paired with Unprecedented Transparency

During the Final Round, each of the six violinists performed a virtuosic work and violin concerto with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Stern.  Previously, contestants composed their own cadenzas for a Mozart violin concerto. The Final Round was broadcast on Chinese television and livestreamed globally. Performances of all rounds are available online on the SISIVC YouTube channel. All jury scoring was made public. For scores, competitor and jury bios, competition process information and more, visit: www.shcompetition.com.

About Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition

The inaugural biennial Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition (SISIVC), Shanghai’s first world-class violin competition, was held from August 14th to September 2nd, 2016 in Shanghai, China. This Competition has taken its name from Isaac Stern to commemorate the musical spirit of Maestro Stern by which a young generation of musicians can be inspired and motivated. Along with a grand prize of USD $100,000 – the highest monetary award of any international music competition, a jury of renowned artists and a unique performance process, the Competition, leverages the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra platform with extensive resources around the world.