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David Kim wins First Prize in International Competition

Violist David Kim, a member of Chamber Music Society Two, has been named the first prize winner at the 9th Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. As the winner of The Ruth Fermoy Memorial Prize, he was awarded £3,000, donated by the Tertis Foundation, a Wigmore Hall Recital in London, and a Photograph of Port Erin donated by the Port Erin Commissioners.

In addition, David was also awarded The Peter Schidlof Prize of a viola bow (value €3,000) made by Stephane Muller of Toulouse. The bow by this fine French bow maker was donated anonymously, and was awarded at the discretion of the Jury to the finalist with the most beautiful sound.

David’s competition repertoire included the last movement of the Brahms E flat major sonata, the entire Bartok Concerto, the Prelude of the Bach Cello Suite No. 4, and the Commission piece, called “Darkness Draws In” by David Matthews.

David’s travels to and from the competition on the Isle of Man were highly affected by the terrorist incident in London (new restrictions on airplane travel hit musicians who generally carry their valuable instruments on to planes). David says:

I returned to London from the Verbier Academy in Switzerland just before the terrorist incident in London, and therefore had to cancel my flight to the Isle of Man which is in the Irish Sea. From London, I took a train to Liverpool, which took 2.5 hours and then a boat called the “Super Seacat” to the island which took 3 hours. It was awful as you can imagine. Anyway, most of the competitors did show up, about 49, and many actually put their violas in the hold of the planes, which was NOT an option for me. I came back to London the same way I got there, but I have to fly out of another country, probably Paris to get back to NYC.

Lionel Tertis, the greatest viola player of the 20th century, died in February 1975, at the age of 98. A fund was set up with the primary objective of establishing an international viola competition to commemorate the work that he undertook for that instrument throughout his long and active life.

Such a competition would provide a unique incentive to the growing number of viola players all over the world who wish to pursue a solo or chamber music career. So the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and Workshop was born.

This triennial event is now well-established and known throughout the musical world. Players of all nationalities are invited to take part and the competition, workshops, and master classes attract participants from over 30 countries.

Read more about the competition.

You can hear David numerous times throughout the season. Congratulations, David!

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