Prizewinners Announced at 2024 Ysaÿe International Music Competition

Austrian violinist Maria Sotriffer received First Prize, which will see her play a concerto with the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

The final round of the Ysaÿe International Music Competition (YIMC) was held from July 8 to July 11, 2024. The competition comprises two categories: the junior division, for violinists aged under 14, and the senior division, for violinists aged under 34.

The winner of the senior division was Maria Sotriffer of Austria, who received a cash prize of €5,000 — as well as the year-long loan of an instrument from Florian Leonhard Fine Violins and a concerto appearance with the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Smetana Hall, Prague.

Second Prize went to Yuki Hirano of Japan (€2,000), while Third Prize (€1,000) was shared equally between Matthew Hakkarainen of Finland and Mariia Lundina of Russia. The Ysaÿe Special Prize was given to Inga Rodina of Russia.

In the junior division, Australian violinist Jayda Lu came first and won €1,000, while Second Prize of €700 went to Hyunsuk Ryu (South Korea) and Third Prize of €300 went to Mingzhe Li (China).

The 2024 jury comprised Ashot Khachatourian (Artistic Director), Daniel Weissman, Philippe Koch, Pavel Vernikov, Sunny Lee, Alexandre Feye, Guido Jardon, Hrachya Avanesyan, Julien Eberhardt, and Philippe Lehaen.

Created in memory of the great violinist Eugene Ysaÿe, YIMC was founded in 2018 by Elena Lavrenov and Ashot Khachatourian as a global platform for young musicians to perform at the highest level.