Competitors Announced For Inaugural Elmar Olivelira International Violin Competition

The Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) is pleased to announce that 20 competitors have been selected to compete in the inaugural 2017 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition in Boca Raton, Florida, from January 22 through February 5, 2017, at Lynn University. The 20 competitors were selected from more than 80 applicants from 16 countries. The 20 competitors who will be advancing to compete in the Semi Final Round Part I range in ages 19-30 and come from eight countries-Norway, South Korea, Hong Kong,China, United States, Kazakhstan, Taiwan and Japan.

"We could not be more pleased with the response to our inaugural competition, and the level of artistry was absolutely remarkable," comments Elmar Oliveira, Founder and Artistic Director of the EOIVC. "It was a very difficult decision, but the 20 who are advancing are truly at the top of their field. The fact that we had submissions from 16 countries and that eight will be represented in this inaugural competition, to me, is astounding. We look forward to meeting each and every competitor and are eager to help build a foundation for their success."

The EOIVC Competitors are:

Christopher Tun Andersen (24, Norway)

Wonhee Bae (29, South Korea)

Aaron Chan (20, Hong Kong)

Brian Kwan Yeung Choi (22, China)

Sirena Huang (22, United States)

Ho-Hsuan Feng (21, Taiwan)

Luke Hsu (26, United States)

Ari Isaacman-Beck (31, United States)

Alina Ming Kobialka (19, United States)

Erzhan Kulibaev (30, Kazakhstan)

Li Lao (29, China)

JiYoon Lee (24, South Korea)

Quanshuai Li (25, China)

Christine Seohyun Lim (22, United States/South Korea)

Max Yiming Mao (22, China)

Dongfang Ouyang (26, China)

Ji Won Song (23, South Korea)

Elly Suh (27, United States/South Korea)

Chiharu Taki (29, Japan)

Hannah Tarley (25, United States)

For more information on the 20 competitors, please visit the EOIVC website.

All 20 competitors will participate in the Semi Final Round Part I January 23-26, 2017. The winners of the Semi Final Round Part I will advance to the Semi Final Round Part II, which takes place at the Lynn Conservatory of Music January 29-January 31, 2017. Those competitors that advance from the Semi Final Round Part II will advance to the Final Round, which will take place at the Wold Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lynn University February 1-5, 2017. All Semi Finals and the Final Rounds are open to the public. Competitors' scores for the Semi Finals and Final Rounds will be posted on the EOIVC website.

The Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) was established by celebrated violinist, Elmar Oliveira, in collaboration with the Lynn Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida. The mission of the EOIVC is to provide talented violinists, ages 16-32, who are at the start of their careers, with networking, management, public relations, and concert opportunities in addition to a monetary prize. These long-term career development tools-reaching well beyond financial support-actively demonstrate the strong dedication of the EOIVC to cultivating and nurturing developing musicians.

The first competition will be held in 2017, and will take place once every three years. The first international panel includes seven esteemed judges. The EOIVC's 2017 panel hails from China, Germany, Iceland, Russia, and the United States, and each are deeply committed to the development of young musicians. The 2017 judges are Andrés Cárdenes, Charles Castleman, Alexander Gilman, Gudny Gudmundsdottir, Daniel Heifetz (Chairman of the Jury), Ilya Kaler and Vera Tsu Wei-ling. Winners will be chosen through an intensive four-step process, beginning with an online submission and culminating in two final performances.

The closing concerts take place on February 4 and 5, 2017, in the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center on the campus of Lynn University, and are open to the public. Music Director and Conductor Guillermo Figueroa will lead the Lynn Philharmonia and the competition finalists in these performances. An awards ceremony, following the final concert, will be held to announce the winners.

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