The Kendall National Violin Competition for young Australian violinists

Ray Chen wins again!
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Sunday 26th July
Semi-Finals
10am
Government House, Sydney
Tickets $25, concessions $20, children under 12 free. Bookings can be made by phoning 8239 2211

12 September 2009
Competition Final
Kendall School of Arts

13 September 2009
Celebration Concert
Kendall School of Arts

Bookings and enquiries to Mavis Barnes 6559 4339

Kendall National Violin Competition Entry Form
Download here

2009 Timberlay International Travel Scholarship
Download an application form

Past Winner Updates
More information

Kendall
More information about it

Kendall National Violin Competition Information
C/- Chair, String Unit,
Sydney Conservatorium
Building C41
Sydney University NSW 2006

Application form can be downloaded from
Entry Form page

President
Elaine van Kempen
Ph 02 6559 6888

Competitor Coordinator
Fran Bec
Ph 02 6582 0868

Kendall National Violin Competition
PO Box 86 Kendall 2439

KENDALL NATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
2009 SEMI FINALISTS

Aris Cao (NSW)
Glenn Christensen (QLD)
Monique Irik (NSW)
Christina Morris (NSW)
Liisa Pallandi (NSW)
Sujin Park (NSW)
Madeline Procopio-Dawson (SA)
Sonja Schebeck (NSW)

About the Competition

One of the most exciting events on the Australian music calendar is the annual Kendall National Violin Competition.

The Competition’s history dates from 1999 when renowned Australian luthier Graham Caldersmith made the generous offer to donate a concert violin each year as a prize. Young violinists (maximum age 23 on 1 January) who are citizens or residents of Australia are invited to compete for this fine instrument which is made from Australian timbers.

Kendall, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, has a history of timber milling as well as many areas of scenic forest preserves and nature reserves. The village is named for Australian poet, Henry Kendall, who was also the first NSW Inspector of Forests. In recognition of this most appropriate use of Australian timber, Forests NSW, a division of the Department of Primary Industry, has sponsored the Competition since its inception. Supporting sponsorship is received each year from AST Floors of Kempsey who also endow the annual TimberLay International Travel Scholarship.

Many of the approximately 150 young violinists who have competed to date, particularly past winners and finalists, have gone on to major achievements in Australia and overseas.

The Competition is administered by a small committee of volunteers under the Artistic Directorship of Goetz Richter, Assoc. Professor of Violin and Chair of the Strings Unit at the Conservatorium of Sydney.

Since 2004, semifinals have been held as public performances in Sydney. The final is always held in Kendall, the home of the Competition.

Ray Chen

Ray Chen, our 2005 winner, who dazzled the audience at Kendall when he was just 15 years old, has just won the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition in Belgium, the most prestigious violin competition in the world.

Ray gave his first concert at the age of eight with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra; the following year he was invited to play at the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Japan. Immediately after his win at Kendall, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia USA where he has been studying since. In 2008 he won first prize at the Yehudi Menuhin Competition in the UK and he recently won first prize in the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York.

Previous winners of the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition include David Oistrakh. Those who heard this charming, yet unassuming, young man at Kendall will not be surprised at the news. Many predicted a major international career for Ray.

Graham Caldersmith carving a violin scroll
Luthier Graham Caldersmith carving a scroll

Goetz Richter

Kendall School of Arts

Violin

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