Classical Music News

Winners Announced at the International Max Rostal Viola Competition

October 25, 2024

2 MIN READ

Violinist Kyungsik Shin won first prize and €7,000

Founded in 1991, the International Max Rostal Competition has been hosted at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin) since 2009 for violin and viola players aged under 30.

In the viola edition, first prize and €7,000 went to Kyungsik Shin, second prize and €3,000 was given to Brian Isaacs, while third prize and €1,500 was awarded to Marina Kosaka.

Brian Isaacs was also given the special prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work, the Audience Award, and the special prize of the Freunde Junger Musiker Berlin.

Additionally, the first, second, and third prize winners in both categories will respectively win five sets, three sets, and one set of strings from Pirastro.

Both violin and viola finalists played with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra) and conductor Pavel Baleff.

Chaired by David Geringas, the 2024 jury comprised Marianne Piketty, Kyung Sun Lee, Christoph Poppen, Lars Anders Tomter, Nils Mönkemeyer, and Carol Rodland.

The violin final is currently underway featuring finalists YiWei Gu, Benjamin Günst, and Varvara Vasylieva. You can watch the live stream here.

Following Kyungsik Shin's recent success winning the second prize as well as the "Gewa" prize at the 78th International Prague Spring Competition, he was named first prize winner of the 28th International Johannes Brahms Competition, International Anton Rubinstein Competition, as well as the second prize and the Audience prize at the Oskar Nedbal International Viola Competition.

As an avid chamber musician, he participated in the "Chamber Music Connects the World" performing with Gidon Kremer, Christian Tetzlaff, and Steven Isserlis at the Kronberg Academy. He has also took part in the Seiji Ozawa International Chamber Music Festival, Tianjin Juilliard Chamber Music Festival, Ljubljana Music Festival, Třeboňská Noctura Music Festival, performing and expanding his musical ideas.

Since his move to Europe, he has appeared with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, Czech Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra, Euro Symphony SFK, and the Barocco Sempre Giovanne orchestra.

Kyungsik began his studies at a very young age at the Korea National University of Arts, and the Seoul National University, studying with Eun-sik Choi. After graduating, he continued his studies at the University of Arts Berlin with Prof. Hartmut Rohde where he completed his Master's Degree and is currently obtaining his Konzertexamen. His studies are being supported by Hyundai Foundation and DAAD Scholarshrip.