On
the beat
COMPETITIONS
Aozhe Zhang
Poiesis Quartet
Balourdet Quartet
ZHANG PHOTO LOUIS DASSELBORNE. POIESIS PHOTO EDEN DAVIS. BALOURDET PHOTO KEVIN W. CONDON
1 Chinese violinist Aozhe Zhang, 17, has been awarded the first prize of CHF20,000 (£18,400) at the Tibor Varga Competition in Sion, Switzerland. The second prize of CHF10,000 went to Russian violinist Maria Lundina, 25, and the third prize of CHF5,000 to Japanese violinist Reika Sato, 26.
2 The Cincinnati-based Poiesis Quartet has won the first prize at the Banff International String Quartet Competition in Banff, Canada, receiving CAD25,000 (£13,400) as well as residencies and tours across North America and Europe. The quartet comprises first violinist Sarah Ying Ma, 22, second violinist Max Ball, 23, violist Jasper de Boor, 24, and cellist Drew Dansby, 24, all from the US. The second prize of CAD12,000 was awarded to the Arete Quartet, and the third prize of CAD8,000 to Quartet KAIRI. See next issue for a full report.