Classical Music News

Prizes Awarded at "Premio Paganini" International Violin Competition

October 27, 2023

3 MIN READ

Violinist Simon Zhu from Germany was awarded first prize at this year's competition in Genoa, Italy

Founded in 1954, the 2023 Premio Paganini Competition has come to a close in Genoa.

The Final Round was streamed on The Violin Channel on October 27 from the Teatro Carlo Felice — on the 241^st anniversary of the birth of the great Genoa violinist and composer.

22-year-old violinist Simon Zhu was crowned the first prize winner from which he will receive €30,000. He will also be invited to perform at an impressive list of concerts, found here, at world-renowned institutions beginning with Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

Additionally, Zhu will be offered the opportunity to play the "Cannone" — the famous violin made in 1743 by the luthier Giuseppe Guarneri "del Gesù" which Paganini gave to his hometown and which is now kept in Palazzo Tursi, seat of the Municipality of Genoa.

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Jingzhi Zhang won second prize and € 20,000, while Qingzhu Weng received third prize and €10,000.

The 2023 jury includes Salvatore Accardo (President) Ilya Grubert, Michael Guttman, Christopher Reuning, Maxim Vengerov, Reiko Watanabe, and Régis Pasquier.

Former first prize winners including Gyorgy Pauk, Gérard Poulet, Salvatore Accardo, Gidon Kremer, Ilya Grubert, Leonidas Kavakos, Ilya Gringolts, Sayaka Shoji, Ning Feng, and VC Artists Inmo Yang and Kevin Zhu.

The relaunch of the competition is strongly supported by Genoa's Mayor Marco Bucci, who entrusted the Presidency of the Prize to Giovanni Panebianco, former Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture.