BREAKING | Keila Wakao Awarded 1st Prize in 2021 Menuhin Competition Junior Division

15-year-old Keila Wakao from Japan/United States has been awarded first prize in the Junior Division of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021

15-year-old Keila Wakao from the USA/Japan has been awarded first prize in the Junior Division of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021.

A student of Donald Weilerstein and Soovin Kim at the New England Conservatory of Music, Keila has performed solos and recitals throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Japan, and Germany. She will receive USD $10,000 and the loan of a fine, Italian violin, sponsored by Florian Leonhard Violins.

2nd and 3rd prizes were awarded to 15-year-old Edward Walton from Australia/United Kingdom and 15-year-old Hannah Wan Ching Tam.

4th and 5th prizes were awarded to 14-year-old Kento Hong from the United States/Japan/Taiwan and 14-year-old Boha Moon from South Korea.

This year's jury comprises violinist Pamela Frank (Chair), violinist and conductor Joji Hattori (Vice-Chair), violinist and entrepreneur Aaron Dworkin, pianist Piers Lane, violinists Soyoung Yoon, VC Artists Noah Bendix-Balgley and Angelo Xiang Yu, violinist, conductor, and educator Alf Richard Kraggerud, and conductor and Music Director of the Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi.

FRIDAY 21ST MAY 2021

JUNIOR DIVISION FINAL

LIVE FROM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Boha Moon (14, South Korea) | Pianist: Miroslav Sekera

• Mendelssohn | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, Allegro molto appassionato
• Tchaikovsky | Valse-Scherzo
• Mason Bates | Bound Away

Hannah Wan Ching Tam (15, China) | Pianist: Maria Jee

• Dvořák | Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53, Allegro ma non troppo
• Mason Bates | Bound Away
• Ysaÿe | Solo Sonata No. 3 in D minor “Ballade”

Edward Walton (15, Australia/United Kingdom) | Pianist: Laurence Matheson

• Mason Bates | Bound Away
• Szymanowski | Mythes Op. 30, No. 1, La fontaine d’Arethuse
• Sibelius | Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, Allegro moderato

Keila Wakao (15, United States/Japan) | Pianist: Dina Vainshtein

• Bloch | Baal Shem, Nigun
• Mason Bates | Bound Away
• Wieniawski | Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22, Allegro moderato

Kento Hong (14, United States/Japan/Taiwan) | Pianist: Nelson Padgett

• Kreisler | Gypsy Caprice
• Saint-Saëns | Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61, Allegro non troppo
• Mason Bates | Bound Away