Klein International String Competition Announces Finalists

3 finalists have been selected to compete in the finals on June 2, 2024, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Open to musicians aged between 15 and 23, the Irving M. Klein International String Competition has been championing the world’s finest young string players for the past 39 years. Held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Sol Joseph Recital Hall, the live finals will start at 3 PM PT on June 2 and be streamed live here on The Violin Channel.

The finalists are violist Pearl de la Motte, violinist Francis Tsai, and cellist Amelia Zitoun.

They will each compete for the $5,000 grand prize (funded by the MOCA Foundation) including performance contracts valued at $15,000 with the Peninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, and Gualala Arts Chamber Series, among others.

The $3,500 second prize — generously supported by Ruth Short in memory of Elaine H. Klein — will also include a performance opportunity with the San José Chamber Orchestra, valued at $5,500.

More prizes include a $2,500 third prize (given in memory of Milton Preves by Judith and David Anderson), and two fourth prizes of $1,500 each, with one given by Maria Klein in memory of Jerry Lee Klein.

Semi-finalists not awarded a named prize will each receive $1,000. Additionally, $500 will be given for the best performance of solo Bach, and of the commissioned work by John Wineglass.

Jury members will comprise Barbara Day Turner, Daniel Stewart, Hal Robinson, Ian Swensen, John Wineglass, Mark Kosower, and Paul Yarbrough.

The 2016 Klein third prizewinner, violinist Alina Kobialka, is one of the competition’s mentors this year and will be co-hosting the event with Klein Artistic Director Mitchell Sardou Klein.

“The 2024 Klein Competition Semifinalists were selected from a record high number of extraordinary applicants, each one with a distinctive voice and remarkable musicianship,” Klein said in the press release. “We are thrilled to present these future leaders of the next generation of brilliant musical artists.”

Past Klein award winners have included Alban Gerhardt, Francesca dePasquale, Frank Huang, Jennifer Frautschi, Jennifer Koh, Vadim Gluzman, Mark Kosower, and VC Artists Nikki Chooi, Tessa Lark, and Zlatomir Fung.

Virtuoso chamber musician and cello teacher Irving M. Klein founded the California Music Center (CMC) in 1974 as a summer music institute and chamber music series for young artists. In 1986, the CMC inaugurated the Irving M. Klein International String Competition (“the Klein”), which has since developed the careers of countless players, who have gone on to become renowned soloists, chamber musicians, teachers, and members in leading international orchestras.