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South Korea’s Sunjae Ok scoops top prize at violin competition in Poland

07.10.2024 11:30
South Korean violinist Sunjae Ok has won the 6th International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition in Toruń, north-central Poland.
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She took home EUR 15,000 in prize money.

The second prize of EUR 10,000 was awarded to Lorenz Karls of Sweden, while the third prize of EUR 6,000 went to Wonbeen Chung of South Korea.

The competition ended on Sunday with a gala concert featuring performances from the top three laureates.

Hanna Pozorska, the only Pole among the six finalists, received a distinction prize of EUR 2,000.

First held in 2007, the International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition is named after one of the finest violinists of the 19th century.

Often described as the "Polish Paganini," Karol Lipiński (1790-1861) gave two concerts with the legendary Italian virtuoso Niccolò Paganini in Milan in 1818. In 1829, they performed together in Warsaw.

As time passed, a rivalry developed between the two musicians. According to historical accounts, whenever Paganini was asked who the greatest violinist was, he would reply: "I don't know who the greatest is, but Lipiński is certainly the second greatest."

Lipiński was also an acclaimed composer whose output comprises numerous pieces for solo violin, four violin concertos, three symphonies, chamber works and vocal-instrumental pieces.

(mk/gs)

Source: The Strad