1 mins
COMPETITIONS
Thomas Mesa
Rino Yoshimoto
Javus Quartet
MESA PHOTO LISA-MARIE MAZZUCCO. YOSHIMOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANGHAI ISAAC STERN INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION. JAVUS QUARTET THERESA PEWAL
1 Cuban–American cellist Thomas Mesa, 32, has won the Sphinx Medal of Excellence worth $50,000. The prize celebrates extraordinary Black and Latinx classical musicians who show artistic excellence, an outstanding work ethic and a commitment to their communities. Mesa has performed as a soloist with o rchestras across the US and is a past winner of the Sphinx Competition.
2 Instead of the usual $100,000 first prize, the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition has awarded its six finalists $20,000 each. The finalists were: Rino Yoshimoto, 19, from Japan, Thomas Lefort, 28, from France, Ruifeng Lin, 22, from China, Felicitas Schiffner, 25, from Germany, Angela Sin Ying Chan, 25, from Hong Kong, and Shannon Lee, 30, from the US.
3 The Austrian Javus Quartet has received the Hans Gál Prize from the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz and Villa Musica Rheinland Foundation. The prize comes with €10,000. The quartet comprises violinists Marie-Therese Schwöllinger, 25, and Alexandra Moser, 26, violist Anuschka Cidlinsky, 25, and cellist Oscar Hagen, 25. The group formed in 2016 at the Mozartzeum Salzburg, Austria.
4 Korean violinist Jaewon Wee won first prize and €3,000 in the senior violin category at the Ysaÿe International Music Competition in Liège, Belgium. The 23-year-old studies at the New England Conservatory. Second prize and €1,000 went to Anna Lee, 26, from the US, and third prize and €500 went to Raika Yamakage, 19, from Japan. No first prize was awarded in the chamber music category, while second prize and €1,000 went to Italy’s Rigamonti Trio. Third prize and €500 went to the Soleri Trio from Bulgaria.