Hong Kong violinist wins top international competition, the first from city to do so

A Hong Kong violinist has won one of the most prestigious international competitions for young soloists, the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Germany. Angela Sin Ying Chan is the first winner from Hong Kong in the event’s history.

Chan, 27, was named joint winner with Canada’s Jacques Forestier on September 28 after five rounds of gruelling competition which began on September 16 with 24 shortlisted contestants from all over the world.

Founded in 1991, the competition is in its 12th edition and held every three years in the city of Hanover by the Arts Foundation of Lower Saxony.

It is open to violinists up to the age of 33 and past winners include Ning Feng, a Chinese soloist with a large following in Hong Kong who took third prize in 2003 and was a judge for this year’s contest, and Robert Chen, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.