Irving M. Klein International String Competition
Semifinalists will perform a new commissioned composition by Richard Festinger and unaccompanied works of Bach and a concerto.
In the final round, the artists must perform additional portions of their selected concerto and one major sonata movement. Awards ceremony and reception will follow the final round.
This year’s grand prize includes $14,850 and solo appearances with the Marin Symphony and the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, in addition to the longstanding appearances with Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, Noontime Concerts (San Francisco) and Music in the Vineyards (Napa Valley). The second prize, valued at $4,250, now comes with additional performance opportunities: a full recital program at the Gualala Arts Chamber Music series and a recital with Noontime Concerts.
The Irving M. Klein International String Competition is a thrilling, exciting event that showcases the bravura of classical music. Since its inception in 1985, the Klein has earned recognition as one of the leading string competitions in the world. The award carries the prestige that has helped many top soloists gain prominence in the competitive world of classical music, including David Requiro, Tessa Lark, Jennifer Koh, Mark Kosower, Vadim Gluzman, Alban Gerhardt, Frank Huang and Francois Salque. The competition is named for the late cellist and master teacher who devoted himself untiringly to the development of young artists.
Semifinalists
- Sarah Harball, 23, violist born in Seattle. She studies with Atar Arad at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
- Austin Huntington, 17, cellist born in Saint Joseph, Mich. He studies with Richard Hirschl at St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend, Ind.
- Chris Irvine, 21, cellist born in Oberlin, Ohio. He studies with Paul Katz at New England Conservatory of Music.
- Jean Kim, 16, cellist born in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. She studies with Minhye Clara Kim and attends Sleepy Hollow High School and the Juilliard School Pre-College Division.
- Natalie Lin, 23, violinist born in New Zealand. She studies with Paul Kantor at Cleveland Institute of Music.
- Richard Narroway, 20, cellist from Australia. He studies with Hans Jorgen Jensen at Northwestern University.
- Su Hyun Park, 20, violinist born in South Korea. She studies with Donald Wellerstein at The Juilliard School.
- Emma Steele, 22, violinist born in Chicago. She studies with Cyrus Forough at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Alexandra Switala, 18, violinist born in Irving, Texas. She studies with Roland and Almita Vamos and is home-schooled in Grapevine, Texas.