Menuhin contest seeks violinists

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 22

Menuhin contest seeks violinists

The third Orion Insurance Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, offering £14,600 in prize-money, will be held from April 3 to 11, 1987 in Folkestone, Kent — the home of the administrative head office of Orion Insurance. Under the presidency

of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, this biennial competition offers an opportunity to young violinists in two age groups, under 16 and under 20. The international jury will be chaired by artistic director Robert Masters, and will Include Michele Auclair (France), Zenon Brzewski (Poland), Wu Zuqiang (People’s Republic of China), Erich Gruenberg (U.K.), Emanuel Hurwitz (U.K.) and Professor Nicholas Chumachenco (Switzerland). The competition, the richest of its type in the world, offers a senior first prize of £3500 and a junior first prize of £2500. Full details of the competition are being circulated to conservatoires, academies, music colleges and schools worldwide. Sir Yehudi Menuhin said: “In 1983 and 1985 I had the great joy of see-

ing dozens of young violinists coming together in Folkestone for a heartwarming, happy and instructive occasion, with many compelling performances. All this is made possible through the vision and generosity of Orion Insurance.” Since the first competition 95 young musicians have been invited to take part from as far afield as Australia, Israel, Norway and the People’s Republic of China. The junior first prize in 1983 was won by Wang Xiao-dong from Shanghai, who came back in 1985 to win the senior first prize. The 1983 senior first prize winner, Leland Chen, from Taiwan, has been offered an extensive number of concert engagements in the United States, in addition to the performances he is playing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.