The 17-year-old is only the second double bassist to have won the contest in its 42-year history

william mcgregor

William McGregor has been named the winner of the 2017 Stulberg International String Competition in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 17-year-old is only the second double bassist to have won the contest in its 42-year history. He receives the Burdick-Thorne Gold Medal, a cash prize of $6,000 and concerto performance opportunities.

Second prize, including a cash award of $5,000, went to 16-year-old violinist Qing Yu Che, while third prize, worth $4,000, went to 17-year-old violinist Karisa Chiu, who also won the $500 Bach prize.

Currently a student of Albert Laszlo on The Juilliard School's Pre-College Division, William McGregor has attended the Aspen Music Festival and School as a fellowship student, and has won first prizes at the Ensemble 212 Young Artist Competition and at the Salome Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

This year's contest, open to international string players aged 11 to 19, attracted applications from more than 170 young musicians. Just 12 candidates were selected to perform in the live rounds for the three-person jury - Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim, University of Michigan viola professor and soloist Yitzhak Schotten, and cellist and Peabody Conservatory professor Amit Peled.