NEW YORK—Normally, in the final round of any competition, nerves are high and so are the stakes, as contestants vie for the prize. Not so on the the final day of the Chinese International Violin Competition on Sunday.
After the closing round of performances, contestants and contest staff gathered in the lunch hall of the Kaufman Center for a heart-to-heart sharing. A common thread in the conversation was the uniqueness of the atmosphere at this particular competition.
“It’s so relaxed,” said contestant Richard Lin. Contestants agreed that there’s no jealousy between participants. “We’re like family,” said Lin.
Pianist Ma Changzi played the accompaniment for many of the contestants throughout the three-day competition. She described her view from backstage. “Before a contestant goes on, the others pat him on the shoulder and say, ‘go for it!’”
To play a Chinese song on a Western instrument is the ultimate challenge to the contestants, most of whom grew up overseas, were trained in the Western style, and had never encountered the piece before. Even some who had grown up in Asia never played “Butterfly Lovers.”
It was a learning opportunity. Most contestants did research of the piece, the underlying story, and life in feudal China, where the story is set.
The requirement of this piece was what inspired Yuncong Zhang, who lives in New York, to join the competition, she said. Her father, also a violinist, had always wanted to play this piece, but due to the suppression of traditional culture in communist China, he never got the chance. Now that daughter and father are separated by long distances, she was even more motivated to do better.
But when it comes down to it, the key ingredient is heart. “The highest standard for an artist is to meld with the music, and live the role. That way they can fully express the meanings in the piece. If it’s all technique, and the audience feels the music’s got very little to do with them, then I'd say that’s not the kind of performer I admire,” said conductor and judge Chen Rutang.
At the award ceremony, the gold winner was given a choice of $10,000 or a handcrafted violin by Taiwanese luthier Su Ting-Hsuan. As the award presenters proffered the violin and a large check before the sixteen-year-old gold medalist Nancy Zhou, she hesitated for a moment before grabbing the check.
Throughout the competition, audience members have commented on Zhou’s stunning ability to convey the sincerest of emotions when she plays. Zhou herself describes her goals simply: “I just try to convey what I want to say to the audience.” In playing “Butterfly Lovers,” she imagined herself as the female main character, Zhu Yingtai. “I’ve never experienced that kind of romance, but as a girl I can relate, and I try my best to experience her emotions,” Zhou said.
Gold ($10,000 and a trophy or prized violin)
Nancy Zhou; Texas, USA
Silver ($3,000 and a trophy)
Richard R. Lin; USA
Bronze: ($1,000 and a trophy)
Zhangtong Song; California, USA
Yuncong Zhang; New York, USA
Outstanding performance (Certificate)
Shu Cheng Yang; Quebec, Canada
Andrew Ling; Texas, USA
Shih-Kai Lin; New York, USA
Chen Han Tsai; New York, USA
After the closing round of performances, contestants and contest staff gathered in the lunch hall of the Kaufman Center for a heart-to-heart sharing. A common thread in the conversation was the uniqueness of the atmosphere at this particular competition.
“It’s so relaxed,” said contestant Richard Lin. Contestants agreed that there’s no jealousy between participants. “We’re like family,” said Lin.
Pianist Ma Changzi played the accompaniment for many of the contestants throughout the three-day competition. She described her view from backstage. “Before a contestant goes on, the others pat him on the shoulder and say, ‘go for it!’”
The Cultural Challenge
In the spirit of bridging East and West, the competition required the finalists to perform in the final round both Paganini and “Butterfly Lovers,” a piece from a love story known as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet. It incorporates the sounds of classical Chinese instruments and is distinctly Chinese in sound.To play a Chinese song on a Western instrument is the ultimate challenge to the contestants, most of whom grew up overseas, were trained in the Western style, and had never encountered the piece before. Even some who had grown up in Asia never played “Butterfly Lovers.”
It was a learning opportunity. Most contestants did research of the piece, the underlying story, and life in feudal China, where the story is set.
The requirement of this piece was what inspired Yuncong Zhang, who lives in New York, to join the competition, she said. Her father, also a violinist, had always wanted to play this piece, but due to the suppression of traditional culture in communist China, he never got the chance. Now that daughter and father are separated by long distances, she was even more motivated to do better.
Tough Being a Judge
With so much young, top talent before them, judges found it tough to choose among them for the highest awards. Among the judging criteria are technique, expression, understanding of the composers’ works, and the ability to convey a Chinese flavor using Western techniques.But when it comes down to it, the key ingredient is heart. “The highest standard for an artist is to meld with the music, and live the role. That way they can fully express the meanings in the piece. If it’s all technique, and the audience feels the music’s got very little to do with them, then I'd say that’s not the kind of performer I admire,” said conductor and judge Chen Rutang.
Winners
Everyone’s a winner in this year’s final round. Of final eight, there were four honorable mentions, two bronzes, and one silver and gold winner each.At the award ceremony, the gold winner was given a choice of $10,000 or a handcrafted violin by Taiwanese luthier Su Ting-Hsuan. As the award presenters proffered the violin and a large check before the sixteen-year-old gold medalist Nancy Zhou, she hesitated for a moment before grabbing the check.
Throughout the competition, audience members have commented on Zhou’s stunning ability to convey the sincerest of emotions when she plays. Zhou herself describes her goals simply: “I just try to convey what I want to say to the audience.” In playing “Butterfly Lovers,” she imagined herself as the female main character, Zhu Yingtai. “I’ve never experienced that kind of romance, but as a girl I can relate, and I try my best to experience her emotions,” Zhou said.
Gold ($10,000 and a trophy or prized violin)
Nancy Zhou; Texas, USA
Silver ($3,000 and a trophy)
Richard R. Lin; USA
Bronze: ($1,000 and a trophy)
Zhangtong Song; California, USA
Yuncong Zhang; New York, USA
Outstanding performance (Certificate)
Shu Cheng Yang; Quebec, Canada
Andrew Ling; Texas, USA
Shih-Kai Lin; New York, USA
Chen Han Tsai; New York, USA
