With the 2015 Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition entering its final stages in Helsinki, VC recently caught up with a number of former prize winners, to get a better understanding of their time in Finland – and the opportunities the quinquennial event has presented. 2005 2nd Prize Winner, VC 'Artist' Jiafeng Chen from China guest blogs about his experience.

VC 'Artist' Jiafeng Chen has today announced the launch of the 1st Jiafeng Chen International Violin Summer Course – to be hosted at London's Royal College of Music from the 10th-21st of July. Open to violinists from around the world, the 12 day intensive performance programme will include lessons with an internationally renown faculty, masterclasses, lectures, rehearsal and performance opportunities with professional pianists – plus a cultural tour of London and Cambridge.

29 year old VC 'Young Artist' Noah Bendix-Balgley, from the United States was recently announced as the newly appointed 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - a decision that would not have surprised many who have worked with this remarkable young musician. We this week caught up with the VC 'Young Artist', and graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the Munich Hochschule, in Pittsburgh – where he has served as the Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, since 2011.

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NOAH BENDIX-BALGLEY | STRAUSS | EIN HELDENLEBEN | CONCERTMASTER SOLO | PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY | 2013

26 year old Chinese violin virtuoso Jiafeng Chen is firmly establishing himself as one of the new generation's most gifted young concert soloists.

A student of Jan Repko, Cho-Liang Lin and Ronald Copes at London's Royal College of Music and the Juilliard School, Jiafeng is a former prize winner at the Sibelius, Wieniawski, Indianapolis, Menuhin and Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competitions.

[video_lightbox_youtube video_id="1yPu8t6Gz48" width="590" height="385" auto_thumb="1"]Jiafeng Chen | Paganini | La Campanella | 2009 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition