It’s a wrap! The results of the 38th Klein Competition
18 year old Toronto-based violist Emad Zolfaghari won the grand prize, which includes $5,000 and performance contracts with the Peninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, Gualala Arts Chamber Series, among others, valued at $13,000. His winning program included movements from the Brahms Viola Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op.120, Bartók’s Viola Concerto Sz. 120, BB 128, and the commissioned work for viola, Suite for Solo Strings II. Embroidering the Earth’s Mantle by Gity Razaz. Emad was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at 16, where he currently studies with Hsin-Yun Huang and Misha Amory, and serves as co-principal viola of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
Violinist Audrey Goodner won the second prize of $3,500 cash and performance contracts valued at $5,500 — including a performance with the San José Chamber Orchestra. Ruth Short gives this prize in memory of Elaine H. Klein. She also received the $500 Pablo Casals Prize for best performance of the solo Bach work.
Third prize went to violinist Ray Ushikubo, along with $2,500 given in memory of Milton Preves by Judith and David Anderson; and the Allen R. Weiss and Susan E. Weiss Memorial Prize for Best Performance of the Commissioned Work, a $500 prize.
Fourth prizes, each worth $1,500, were awarded to Blaire Kim, in memory of Jerry Lee Klein; and Vincent Garcia-Hettinger, given by Peter Gelfand and Sharon Childress. Each semifinalist not awarded a named prize receives $1,000.
Jury panel: violinist Glenn Dicterow, violist Karen Dreyfus, cellist and 2014 Klein first prizewinner Zlatomir Fung, this year’s commissioned composer Gity Razaz, bassist Harold Robinson, and conductors Daniel Stewart and Barbara Day Turner.
Open to string players between the ages of 15 – 23 at the time of the Competition, the 38th Klein took place June 3 – 4, 2023. Nine semifinalists competed for for cash prizes and performance contracts at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. All contestants premiered the commissioned works by composer Gity Razaz, and performed Bach, and movements from concerti and sonatas.