Carl Flesch Competition 1990

July 20, 1990, Friday

BOY, 15, WINS TOP MUSIC AWARD

Britain's top award for violinists, the City of London Carl Flesch International Violin competition medal, has been won by a 15-year-old boy from the Soviet Union. Maxim Vengerov was the first Soviet competitor to enter the competition, named after the legendary Hungarian violinist and teacher, in its 45-year history. He was presented last night with the £5,000 prize money, the Carl Flesch gold medal, and a gold-mounted bow at the Barbican Centre by Arts Minister Richard Luce. Maxim collected five other prizes worth about £2,000.

The Strad Sept 1990

Carl Flesch Competition: Russia enters for the first time and sweeps the board

In July this year 15-year-old Russian Maxim Vengerov became the youngest-ever winner of the Carl Flesch competition, on the first occasion the USSR had been represented in the event, carting off a total of 7 prizes.

Second prize, the Royal Philharmonic’s Emily Anderson award, went to Elissa Koljonen, an American studying at the Curtis Institute and third, Beare Prize, to Guo Chang from China. Studying in England, Polish contender Bartolomiej Niziol, 16, won the Sedgewick fourth prize, Michin Sugiura, 26, at the Curtis Institute, won fifth prize and Daniel Gaede from Germany the sixth, Kiln prize.

Vengerov won six of the other eight prizes. Mr Albert Frost, the non-voting Chairman of the Jury said at the presentation ceremony, ‘Vengerov was a truly outstanding competitor and well deserved his success.’ He went on to pay tribute to all 21 entrants:

‘The standard this year was without doubt the highest in the 45 years the competition has been held’