COMPETITIONS

Joshua Brown

1 US violinist Joshua Brown, 24, won the gold medal at the Global Music Education League Competition in Beijing, China. He receives $100,000, international management and performance opportunities. He is currently studying for a master’s at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, US. US violinist Elli Choi, 22, won the silver medal and $65,000, while Chinese violinist Chaowen Luo, 22, won the jade medal and $30,000.

2 German violinist Simon Zhu, 22, won the €30,000 grand prize at the Premio Paganini International Violin Concerto Competition in Genoa, Italy. He also received the Fondazione Pallavicino Award. Zhu is currently studying with Ana Chumachenco in Munich. Jingzhi Zhang, 22, and Qingzhu Weng, 22, both from China, won the €20,000 second prize and €10,000 third prize respectively.

Novo Quartet

3 The Novo Quartet from Denmark won the CHF20,000 (£18,000) first prize at the Concours de Genève. It also won the Young Audience Prize, Students’ Prize, Audience Prize and the Concerts de Jussy Prize. The quartet comprises violinists Kaya Kato Møller, 25, and Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard, 23, violist Daniel Śledziński, 27, and cellist Signe Ebstrup Bitsch, 26. The Elmire Quartet and the Hana Quartet won joint second prize and CHF12,000 (£11,000) each.

Leland Ko

BROWN PHOTO SEBASTIAN ORR. NOVO QUARTET PHOTO ANNE-LAURE LECHAT. KO PHOTO ANTOINE SAITO

4 Chinese–Canadian cellist Leland Ko, 25, won the CAD20,000 (£11,500) first prize at the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Competition. He also won the J.S. Bach Special Round Prize, as well as educational, recording and performance opportunities. Canadian violinist Justin Saulnier, 18, won the CAD12,000 (£7,000) second prize, while Canadian violist Emad Zolfaghari, 19, won the CAD7,500 (£4,500) third prize.

FORTHCOMING COMPETITIONS & AWARDS

Joseph Joachim Competition in Hanover, Germany, for violinists aged 16 to 32. First prize €30,000. Deadline 31 March; competition 16–28 September Web jjv-hannover.de

Khachaturian International Competition in Yerevan, Amenia, for violinists aged 16 to 35. First prize €10,000. Deadline 1 March; competition 6–13 June

Web khachaturian-competition.com

Leonid Kogan International Competition in Brussels, Belgium, for violinists aged 23 or under. First prize €2,000. Deadline 3 March; competition 4–9 June

Web leonidkogan-competition.com

APPOINTMENTS

• Russian-born French violinist Fedor Rudin began as professor of violin at Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts in October 2023

• US violist Marcus Stevenson has joined the Ivalas Quartet

• US cellist and composer Paul Wiancko has been appointed director of chamber music for the Spoleto Festival US violist Joan DerHovsepian has been named principal violist of the Houston Symphony

For current vacancies, see our online jobs page at www.thestrad.com/jobs