Prodigious 9 Year Old Violinist Awarded 1st at Russian ‘Nutcracker’ Comp [VIDEO]

9 year old British violinist Leia Zhu has been awarded 1st prize at the 2015 International ‘Nutcracker’ Television Competition for Young Musicians, in Moscow.

A student of Professor Itzhak Rashkovsky, Leia is a former 1st prize winner at the Bulgarian ‘Young Virtuoso’ Contest and the International Russian Rotary Music Competition, in Moscow.

LEIA ZHU | MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO | 3RD MVT | 2015 'NUTCRACKER’ TELEVISION CONTEST FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS

Open to children internationally up to the age of 14, Leia is the youngest top prize winner in the 16 year history of the competition.

“To play in cooperation with conductor Ayyub Guliyev was such an honour,” Leia has said, “…. the experience of playing with the Russian National Orchestra was amazing - I can’t wait to come back again.”

She will receive 120,000 RUB (US $1750).