Hong Kong violinist Angela Sin Ying Chan has made history by becoming the first-ever winner from the city at the prestigious Joseph Joachim Violin Competition, held in Hanover, Germany. The 27-year-old violinist shared the top prize with Canada’s Jacques Forestier after five challenging rounds that began on September 16 and concluded with the final performance on September 28. The competition, one of the world’s most respected contests for young violin soloists, has been running since 1991 and is held every three years. This year’s edition saw 24 talented musicians from across the globe compete for the coveted title.
Chan, who began playing the violin at age three under the guidance of her mother, a professional violinist and teacher in Hong Kong, expressed her gratitude and joy after the win. “I am ecstatic, happy, and honored,” she told The Violin Channel. “It has been a very humbling and learning experience, performing so many concerts in the past two weeks.”
For the final round, Chan performed a required piece, Feder by German composer Enno Poppe, followed by Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, accompanied by the NDR Radio Philharmonic. Reflecting on the emotional experience of performing on stage, she said, “When the orchestra began playing Brahms, I almost cried. The sound was so incredible, and despite my nerves, I tried to enjoy the moment.”
Chan’s musical education includes studies in Beijing, the Curtis Institute of Music in the U.S., and a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She has earned numerous accolades in her career, including second prize in the ArsClassica International Competition in 2023 and first prize in the 2016 International Louis Spohr Competition. She has performed with orchestras such as The Staatskapelle Weimar, China Philharmonic Orchestra, and Hong Kong Symphonia.
Her co-winner, 19-year-old Jacques Forestier, chose to play Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor for his final performance. Together, Chan and Forestier share the winners’ prize of €30,000 (US$33,500), along with additional prizes for being finalists. Chan also won €5,000 for her outstanding performance of the commissioned work by Poppe.
Chan’s remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone in her career and for Hong Kong’s representation on the global classical music stage.
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