VC Artist Zlatomir Fung’s First Prize-Winning Performance at 2014 Klein Competition

In June of 2014, 15- year old American cellist Zladomir Fung was awarded 1st prize at the Irving M. Klein International String Competition

Open to musicians aged 15 to 23, the Irving M. Klein International String Competition is entering its 40th edition with the live semifinal and finals to be held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from June 7–8, 2025.

Join us here on The Violin Channel as we stream the competition live worldwide.

Previous winners include Frank Huang, Mark Kosower, Teng Li, Jennifer Frautschi, and Nikki Chooi.

Enjoy 2014 winner Zladomir Fung’s grand prize performance of Schnittke Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 with pianist Miles Graber:

VC Artist Zlatomir Fung won first prize at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition, becoming the youngest cellist ever to win the competition. He has served as Artist-in-Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2023–2024 season, appearing at London’s Cadogan Hall and touring the UK with the orchestra. Other notable appearances of late include his debuts with the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lille, and BBC Philharmonic. Fung joined the cello faculty at The Juilliard School in 2024.