Italy’s Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition Announces 2024 Winners

The competition has named nine-year-old violinist Kai Xuan Travis Wong as its overall winner

The 31st edition of the International Violin Competition “Andrea Postacchini” took place at Italy’s “Aquila” Theatre of Fermo from May 18–25, 2024. Launched in 1994 and hosted annually, the competition is open to violinists of all nationalities, and held in four categories for those born between 1992 and 2016.

As the competition’s “Andrea Postacchini” Absolute Winner, nine-year-old violinist Kai Xuan Travis Wong will receive a diploma, a violin by Giacomo NIBID from Montorio al Vomano, and a violin bow crafted by Walter Barbiero from Piombino Dese. Also the Category A first prize runner up, Wong will receive a €1,400 cash prize. 

Category A, for those born between 2013–2016, awarded second runner up and €1,100 to Sora Lavorgna, and awarded third runner up and €900 to Tengying Ma. This category’s €800 student grant was given to Lisa Leonore Hubig.

For those born between 2008–2012, Category B awarded first place and €1,800 to Lauriac Maelys; second place with €1,400 went to Guo Fengning, and the €1,100 third place went to Ye Mingzhe. The category’s €1,000 student grant was awarded to Slobodyanyuk Andrei.

For those born between 2003–2007, Category C awarded first place and €2,200 to Eva Ter-Sarkisova, second place and €1,700 to Johanna Elene Freitag, and the €1,300 third place to Leonardo Priori. The €1,200 student grant was awarded to Joaquin Hernando Cabello. Freitag also won the €500 City of Ansbach award to the best-ranked German competitor.

Finally, Category D for those born between 1992–2002, was awarded first place with €2,600 to Zamponi Yume; second place and €2,000 was awarded to Chen Yige, and the €1,500 third place went to Wang Ruiyi. 

Yume also won the €800 special award for the best interpretation of a piece by J.S. Bach, as well as the Atelier Lazzaro & Fine Violins Salzburg award for best Italian competitor — Yume will have the free use of the “Marino Capicchioni – Rimini 1966” violin for a whole year. 

Additionally, the €800 City of Fermo Award to an Italian competitor for the best execution of Paganini’s Capricci was awarded to Elisa Scudeller, while Francesco Mardegan was awarded the €600 Prize in memory of Commendator Guerriero Santori. 

The winners will also have many concert opportunities in the upcoming 2024/25 season, including with the Virtuosi Italiani, Summer Music Meeting, and Chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Gigli; more concerts include those organized by Fondazione Gioventù Musicale d’Italia, Appassionata Associazione Musicale, Gli AMICI della MUSICA, and the “Giuseppe Cerquetelli” Cultural Musical Association. 

Chaired by Ulf Schneider, this year’s competition jury comprised Miranda Cuckson, Felice Cusano, Chenxing Huang, Alberto Martini, Elena Revich, and Matteo Calosci.