The Best Violinists Live in Asia

The first David Oistrakh International Violin Competition, held on September 7-18 under the auspices of the President, Cabinet of Ministers, and Ministry of Culture and Art of Ukraine, has ended in Odesa.

For two weeks, musicians from 16 countries vied on the stage of Odesa’s Philharmonic Society under the eyes of an expert jury, including the world’s leading professors and musicians, such as David Oistrakh’s pupil, Prof. Oleh Krysa (currently with the Eastman School of Music) and People’s Artist of Ukraine Prof. Oleksandr Zlotnyk. Igor Oistrakh, laureate of many international competitions, was invited as an honorary member.

After a long debate, the judges named three performers from Asia winners. Mayuko Kamio (Japan) placed first, followed by Grafe Lee from Singapore and Wu Tien Hsing from Taiwan. They played in the final concert, accompanied by Odesa’s Philharmonic under the direction of Mykola Sirenko from Kyiv. The Ukrainian Oleh Kraskiv and Russian Nadezhda Korshakova shared fourth place. The fifth award went to Ajnur Zabenova (Kazakhstan) and Ilya Gaifin (Russia). All the prizewinners received money and medals.

The competition rules also provided for special prizes. The compulsory program included the Liszt-style Carpathian Violin and Piano Rhapsody by People’s Artist of Ukraine Myroslav Skoryk, which was composed specially for the competition. Mayuko Kamio and Oleh Kraskiv received the Grand Prix. Oles also received a prize for best Ukrainian performer, while the prize for youngest performer went to 16-year-old Vladyslava Luchenko. The audience choice trophy went to the French Yaroslav Rivier. However, contestants and spectators alike agreed that the first step hadn’t proved particularly troublesome. Local and foreign participants noted good organization, much better in fact than that of Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Festival. Oleksandr Zlotnyk said he hoped the international violin competition becomes a tradition in Ukraine and is held every two years. “I don’t want to make any premature statements,” said Oleh Krysa, “but I believe that we’ll meet again in Odesa in 2008 to mark the hundredth anniversary of the great musician and celebrated Odesa resident David Oistrakh.”