Starla Breshears won the grand prize of $5,000, plus special prizes and a host of future performance engagements
The final round of the 41st Irving M. Klein International String Competition was held on 7 June at the Carolin H. Hume Concert Hall, San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
The grand prize was won by 18-year-old cellist, Starla Breshears. Breshears, who recently won a position with the San Francisco Symphony, won $5,000, plus performance opportunities with the Peninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Gualala Arts Chamber Series, Music in the Vineyards, Buffalo Chamber Players, Musical Masterworks, among others, and is valued at $18,000.
Breshears also won the prize for best performance of a sonata, consisting of $1,000 and a recital contract for next season, plus the award of $500 for the best performance of solo Bach.
19-year old violinist James Birch won the second prize of $3,500 cash. It is valued at $5,500 with a performance with the San José Chamber Orchestra.
The third prize went to 19-year-old violist Jones Lau of $2,500 cash, while two fourth prizes of $1,500 each are awarded; one given to 22-year-old cellist Elliot Sloss and one given to 22-year-old violinist Juyeon Diana Lee.
The semi-finalists Angela Yining Sun, cello and Rachael Kim, violin, each received $1,000.
The 2026 competition jury comprised Richard Aaron, Chrstopher Costanza, Jory Fankuchen, Jennifer Frautschi, Suzanne Sorkin, Daniel Stewart and Wyatt Underhill.
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