The Japanese competition offers a $27,000 first prize plus a package of concerts and other benefits

Sendai semi-finalists

The 12 Sendai semi-finalists

The seventh Sendai International Violin Competition started its live rounds on 15 June with 38 competitors. These have now been reduced to 12 for the semi-finals.

They are:

  • Rio Arai (Japan)
  • Kaori Furusawa (Japan)
  • Yuki Ishihara (Japan)
  • Honoka Kishimoto (Japan)
  • Chihiro Kitada (Japan)
  • Donghwi Ko (South Korea)
  • Shannon Lee (US/Canada)
  • Charlie Lovell-Jones (UK)
  • Elias David Moncado (Germany)
  • Andrea Obiso (Italy)
  • Kelly Talim (US)
  • Mayu Tomotaki (Japan)

They will perform across 21-23 June with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ken Takaseki, and six then proceed to the final round (27-29 June) with a winners’ gala concert on 30 June.

They jury, chaired by Yuzuko Horigome, comprises Gidon Kremer, Masafumi Hori, Boris Belkin, Olivier Charlier, Rodney Friend, Tomoko Kato, Younguck Kim, Cho-Liang Lin, Saeka Matsuyama, Joel Smirnoff, and Isabelle Van Keulen.

The gold medal includes a cash prize of JPY 3,000,000 (c. $27,000), CD production and a package of concerts and recitals in Japan. Prominent past laureates include Alena Baeva, Clara-Jumi Kang, Richard Lin and Bomsori Kim.

More information at simc.jp/en