The youngest competitor in the 11th Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival and Competition, 15 year old Ziyu Shen (China) took the top prize in the competition final on Saturday March 23.

Ziyu, who began to play the violin when she was four and transferred her attention to the viola while attending the music middle school affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2009, received the sought after Lillian Tertis Memorial Prize of ?7,000 donated by the Tertis Foundation.

The foundation was created by the late Mrs Tertis to continue the work of her husband who has been described as the first and greatest virtuoso of the viola.

Ziyu, a prize winner in other  major competitions who has been praised for her natural flowing style of playing, also received a London recital and a solo performance opportunity with the Philharmonia Orchestra. 

Second prize, the ‘Ruth Fermoy Memorial Prize’ of ?5,000, donated by the Tertis Foundation, went to Kei Tojo, 21, (Japan).

Kei started playing the violin in 1994 and the viola in 2003. 

She has studied at the Conservatoire de Paris and is a competition prize winner and has played in master classes in Japan and across Europe. Kei also has orchestral experience.

The international jury decided that the third prize, the ‘Artur Rubinstein Memorial Prize’ of ?3,000, donated by the Tertis Foundation, should be shared between the two other finalists Shuangshuang Liu, 26, (China) and Matthew Lipman, 21, (USA).

Shuangshuang also attended the music middle school affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Based in Philadelphia she has attended festivals, has orchestral experience and has given notable performances as a soloist and as a chamber musician.  She has gained a number of awards and scholarships.

Mat began his music studies on the viola at age 10 in a school string programme and has since won numerous awards and honours. 

He has been hailed for his splendid technique and musical sensitivity and is said to be fast emerging as one of America's most exciting young violists.  He has performed extensively across America and Europe.

The exceptionally high standard of playing at the competition, held at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin, Isle of Man presented the jury, chaired by Mr Brian Hawkins, a professional viola player and a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in London, with a dilemma.

With 86 initial applications from across the globe, it settled down to select three finalists from the eight semi finalists who had won through from earlier auditions.

Mr Hawkins emerged from the jury room to tell festival director Dr John Bethell the jury, which included festival president Mr Yuri Bashmet, the Russian virtuoso, wished to send four competitors through to the final due to the exceptionally high standard of playing.

"I was absolutely delighted," said Dr Bethell who has directed the festival since it moved to the Isle of Man in 1980.

"To receive almost 90 initial entries from across the globe and then to hear that an additional place would be required in the final due to the exceptional high standard of playing is absolutely marvellous.

"Lionel Tertis himself would have been similarly delighted that the viola is going from strength to strength".

To accommodate the four finalists, each played a reduced programme including the specially commissioned test piece ‘Six Sorano Variants’ by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Master of The Queen's Music, receiving its world premiere and a complete concerto.

Prizes were presented by the President of Tynwald, the Hon. Clare M Christian MLC.

Special prizes awarded at the discretion of the  jury were:

The ‘Pennycress Trust Prize’ of ?500: Rosalind Ventris (UK).

The ‘Tower Insurance Prize’ of ?250: Bo Li (China).

The ‘Cains Advocates & Notaries Prize’ of ?250: Chieh-Fan Yiu (Taiwan).
                 
The ‘Rotary Club of Rushen & Western Mann Prize’ of ?250: Wenhong Luo (China).
  
The ‘Gwynne Edwards Memorial Prize’ of ?200: Rosalind Ventris (UK).

The ‘Karl Doktor Prize’ of ?150 Iiro Oskari Rajakoski (Finland).

The ‘Hiscox Cases Prize’ of a viola case to the value of ?150: Rosalind Ventris (UK).

The ‘Musicians’ Union (North of England) Prize’ of one year’s membership: Rosalind Ventris (UK).

The ‘Isle of Man Bank Prize’ of ?100: Chieh-Fan Yiu (Taiwan).

The ‘Boosey and Hawkes Prize’ of a ?100 voucher for purchase made through their online shop: Kei Tojo (Japan).

The ‘Schott Music Publishers Prize’ of a selection of music:  Sung Jin Lee (South Korea).

The ‘Stainer & Bell Prize’ of a ?50 voucher for goods in their catalogue: Laura Seay (USA).

The ‘Josef Weinberger Publishers Prize’ of a selection of music Iiro Oskari Rajakoski (Finland).

The ‘Josef Weinberger Publishers Prize’ of a selection of music:  Hyobi Sim (Korea).
 
The ‘Josef Weinberger Publishers Prize’ of a selection of music:  Seungwon Lee (South Korea).

The XlI Lionel Tertis International Viola Festival and Competition will take place from March 19 – 26, 2016.