Youngest First Prize Winner ever Fumiaki Miura also received the Audience Prize

Ocotber 12, 2009. The Japanese 16 years old Fumiaki Miura started the Hannover International Violin Competition as second youngest competitor two weeks ago. With technical precision, impressive virtuosity and heart-warming performances he not only convinced the International Jury (and won the First Prize), the Music Critics‘ Jury (for the Music Critics‘ Prize), but he also won over the audience. Those members of the audience who attended both final concerts also had a vote and gave it to the young Japanese to win the Audience Prize valued at €5,000.

Fumiaki Miura is the youngest First Prize Winner since the competition‘s beginning in 1991. In addition, he is the only competitor, who has won several prizes at the same time. Miura comes from a musical family. His father is concertmaster of an orchestra in Japan, and his sister is studying the piano. Fumiaki Miura began to play the violin at the age of three, and until recently he was studying with Tsugio Tokunaga in Tokyo. From now on, he will be continuing his studies in Vienna.

Fumiaki Miura comments enthusiastically: ›It was a great pleasure to play with such a great orchestra as the NDR Radio Philharmonics under the baton of Nicholas Milton. My host family made me feel very comfortable all the time. I would like to thank all the people here in Hannover who were very kind to me!‹

The Hannover International Violin Competition – dedicated to Joseph Joachim – was founded in 1991 and is presented every three years by the Stiftung Niedersachsen in cooperation with the University of Music and Drama Hannover, the NDR (North German Broadcasting) and the Staatsoper Hannover. The Hannover International Violin Competition is a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, Geneva. The next Competition will take place in the fall of 2012.

Recent press photos of the Prize Winners can be downloaded from www.violin-competition.de. Press queries can be directed to Anke Schauer on +49 (0)511 - 990 54 18 or by email to schauer@violin-competition.de.