Japanese Violinist Seiji Okamoto Awarded 1st Prize at Leipzig Bach Competition

20 year old Japanese baroque violinist Seiji Okamoto has been awarded 1st prize at the 2014 Johann Sebastian Bach International Music Competition, in Leipzig Germany.

A student of the Tokyo University of Arts, Seiji will receive €10,000 (USD $13,500) and a number of important European concert engagements.

2nd prize was awarded to 28 year old Marie Radauer-Plank from Austria – and 3rd prize to 23 year old Niek Baar from the Netherlands.

The biennial competition, started in East-Germany in the 1950s to celebrate the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, is open to international pianists, harpsichordists, violinists and baroque violinists.

Seiji is the competition's first Japanese winner, in its 64 year history.