by Mike Telin
After impressive performances by six young violinists during the second round of the Cooper International Violin Competition, the jury selected three to advance to the final round. On August 19 at Oberlin Conservatory’s Warner Concert Hall, the talented violinists presented concertos by Tchaikovsky and Brahms with the Canton Symphony under the direction of Gerhardt Zimmermann.
Here are our thoughts on the three outstanding performances.
by Mike Telin
After the final notes of the 2022 Cooper International Violin Competition had been played, the jury announced that the First Prize winner was Seohyun Kim of South Korea.
In addition to the prestige that comes with winning, the 13-year-old was awarded $US 20,000, a two-year partnership with MKI Artists, and the opportunity to give the world premiere of a new work by Jeff Scott. Kim will also have exclusive rights to the piece for two years, during which time she will be loaned an instrument from Jonathan Solars Fine Violins made by Marco Antonio Cerin in Venice circa 1785-90.
Earlier this morning I caught up with the young violinist via Zoom from her home in Seoul and began by asking her how she felt when she realized she had won.
Seohyun Kim: I was so excited. Actually, when I decided to participate in the competition I didn’t expect to win. But when I did, I got really excited.
by Mike Telin
After a grueling three rounds at Oberlin’s Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition, on Friday evening, July 26 at Severance Hall, 18-year-old violinist Eric Charles Chen from Princeton, New Jersey was awarded the grand prize of $20,000. Earning second place and $10,000 was 14-year-old Shihan Wang of Beijing, China, while Sixteen-year-old Isabella Brown of Gurnee, Illinois, earned third place and $5,000.
Commenting in a press release on Chen’s performance of Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 2 in g with The Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Gemma New, Director and Jury Chair Gregory Fulkerson said, “What you heard from Eric was profound instrumental control and rhythmic understanding of the piece.” Fulkerson particularly praised Chen for his delivery of a duet with the Orchestra’s bass section late in the piece. “It was a true moment of greatness.” [Read more…]
by Daniel Hathaway
By virtue of their performances in the semi-final, concerto, and recital rounds, three young violinists earned the privilege of standing in front of The Cleveland Orchestra in Severance Hall on Friday evening, July 25 for the final round of the 2019 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition. Concertos by Mendelssohn, Prokofiev, and Dvořák were on the agenda, and prizes of $20k, $10k, and $5k were waiting in the wings. [Read more…]
by Daniel Hathaway
Having survived Tuesday’s concerto rounds, the six remaining violinists in the Cooper International Competition returned to their solo repertoire, playing half-hour long recitals in Oberlin’s Warner Concert Hall on Wednesday evening, July 24. The lucky three who prevailed would move on to play concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra under the baton of Gemma New on Friday evening at Severance Hall. [Read more…]
by Mike Telin
The 2019 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition got underway on Saturday afternoon, July 20, when 24 young violinists representing seven U.S. States and eight countries played their Semifinal Rounds in Warner Concert Hall at the Oberlin Conservatory. On Monday evening the field was narrowed to ten. On Tuesday, July 23, those competitors played full concertos, and each of the musicians brought solid technique and musical flair to their performances. [Read more…]
by Mike Telin
Later this week, 24 young violinists representing seven U.S. States and eight countries will arrive in Oberlin to participate in the tenth edition of the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition. Events begin with the semifinal rounds on Saturday, July 20 at 1:30 pm in Warner Concert Hall at the Oberlin Conservatory.
At stake is a grand prize of $20,000, in addition to second and third prizes of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. The Competition will continue into next week and culminate with the three finalists playing concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Gemma New (replacing Bramwell Tovey) in Severance Hall on Friday, July 26 at 7:30 pm. (See our concert listings for details about the semi-final, concerto and recital rounds that will determine who plays in the finals.)
All performances at Oberlin are free. Tickets for the July 26 Concerto Finals at Severance Hall range from $13-$30. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 800-686-1141. Student tickets are free with a paying adult. All rounds held in Oberlin will be live-streamed on www.oberlin.edu/cooper. The Recital Round at Oberlin and Concerto Finals at Severance Hall will be broadcast on WCLV FM 104.9. The Recital Round will be broadcast on delay on Thursday evening, July 25. [Read more…]
by Mike Telin and Samantha Spaccasi
For the past seven summers, young musicians have traveled to the Oberlin College campus to compete in the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition.
On Saturday, July 15 at 1:30 pm in Warner Concert Hall at the Oberlin Conservatory, 24 young violinists representing eight U.S. States and eight countries will begin their quest for the $20,000 grand prize as well as the opportunity to perform full concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Jahja Ling in Severance Hall on Friday, July 21 at 7:30 pm. (See our concert listings for details about the semi-final, concerto and recital rounds that will determine who plays in the finals.) [Read more…]