Winners Announced For ‘Play with Ray Chen' Home Edition Competition

VC Artist Ray Chen, in conjunction with J & A Beare, have announced the winners of the 2020 'Play With Ray' Home Edition Competition

Violinist VC Artist Ray Chen, in conjunction with J & A Beare, has this week announced the winners of the 2020 'Play With Ray' Home Edition Competition.

For this year's special COVID-19 online competition, contestants from all over the world were asked to submit a video performance of themselves performing Kreisler's 'Liebesleid.'

The 2020 winners are:

• Pianist Andrew Coleman
• Pianist Miyu Matsui
• Pianist Fidelia Gisella
• Oboist Celia Wojcik
• Pipa player Claire Zhang
• Cellist Moritz Huemer
• Trumpeter Austin Alcancia
• Eyebrow tuner Michelle Zhang
• String Trio Alex Cho & Friends
• 'Furry Friends' pianist Emily Yang Hu
• The 'Mayonoise' High School Group
• 'Olden Times' violinist Arka Chatterjee
• 'By The Sea' violinist Przemek Prucnal 
• 'Teacher Family Tree' violinist Emily Richards Ricks 
• Violinist Nesya Fertel
• Violinist Basar Gezer
• Violinist Megan Lim
• 'Scientist’s Passion' violinist Angelina Rogatch
• Violinist Kian Conti 
• Pianist Pauline Fritsch

Each of the 20 winners, chosen from 240 applications, will receive $500, a zoom call with the Australian violinist - plus will be featured on his YouTube channel.

"Creativity is a rare but essential quality we need in the classical music industry ... I see it as an honor and responsibility to help nurture and guide the future of classical music by encouraging innovation and for people to step out of their comfort zones - all the while performing beautiful music ..." Ray has this week told The Violin Channel.

"The cool thing is, I actually didn’t announce that there would be money or a prize other than 'being featured in an upcoming YouTube video' ... the $500 per winner came as a total surprise to everybody - thanks to the generosity of J&A Beare, in London ..." he has said.

"I’m incredibly happy to see so much talent, and care for music especially in young people ... this year’s 'Play with Ray' proved that music really does have the power to transport you to different places, and that the future of classical music is bright."

The inaugural 2019 'Play With Ray' competition was hosted in Los Angeles - with the 3 finalists offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform Bach's Double Violin Concerto at the Hollywood Bowl with Ray and the LA Philharmonic.