Breathtaking performances of young musicians at Concertino Praga 2024
This year’s Concertino Praga has once again shown that young talents from all over the world have enormous potential and a bright future.
This year’s final featured four exceptional young musicians who not only won over the jury with their performances, but also the audience. First place went to the Polish violinist Zoja Syguda (2009), who also won the Audience Prize. Second place went to the Czech pianists Nora Lubbadová (2009), who also received the prestigious EMCY Award. Third place went to the German pianist Celina Höferlin (2010).
Anke Chen (2011) from China received a First class honourable mention, while Second class honourable mentions were awarded to several promising musicians: Levente Bubreg (bassoon), Darin Lambrev (violoncello), Matthew Stephen Hockaday (clarinet), Viktor Stocker (accordion) and Lana Zorjan (violin).
“I think the quality of the performances was astonishing, especially given the girls’ ages. It is truly unbelievable, the passion, commitment and determination to go there at that age, to walk into such an excellent hall and, of course, to do so in front of microphones, cameras and everybody else. I cannot emphasise enough the sacrifice required and what it means to be able to do something like that at such a young age and to play the way these girls played today. Each of them had a different quality and they all clearly showed who they are as musicians. It was truly a great pleasure to be able to be here this evening,” said Paul Lewis, a member of the jury for the competition’s final round, directly after the end of the concert.
The finalists were assessed by a renowned jury consisting of significant personalities from the international music scene, including the jury’s chairwoman Sarah Willis and other members such as Ivo Kahánek, Paul Lewis and František Novotný.
The complete results of the 58th year of the Concertino Praga – the Antonín Dvořák International Radio Competition for Young Musicians are available here.
The semi-finalists performed on the Talent Stage of the Dvořák Prague Festival on Thursday 12 September.
If you were unable to attend the final evening, you have an excellent opportunity to come to one of the concerts at the South Bohemian Festival and to experience the laureates’ masterful performances with your own ears. The festival offers not only excellent music, but also a unique atmosphere in beautiful South Bohemian towns such as Český Krumlov, Bechyně, Tábor and Jindřichův Hradec, where the laureates will perform on 16–20 September. The festival also includes an educational concert as part of the “Vlnohraní” project, at which children from the primary schools in Jindřichův Hradec will meet the young musical talents and experience live music as performed by the winners of this prestigious competition.
