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Benjamin Günst and Kyungsik Shin win at the Max Rostal Competition

Competitions

UdK Berlin once again holds the renown competition for violin and viola

Max Rostal played an important role in the history of violin playing, both as performer and as teacher. Many internationally known violinists over several generations were students of Max Rostal. In 1991, a competition was created in his name in his adopted hometown of Bern, Switzerland. Initially hosted by the Bern Conservatory, and alternately held for violin and viola, since 2009 it is held at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin) for violin and viola simultaneously. Mainly financed by the Foundation International Max Rostal Competition Bern, the competition has been member of the Federation since 2008.

Benjamin Günst, 1st prize winner, Violin

Violin Winner Benjamin Günst was born in Kiel on August 2, 2002. From 2018 to 2021 he was a junior student with Prof. Heime Müller at the the Lübeck University of Music, and from 2021 he began his studies with Prof. Antje Weithaas at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin. He has also been attending regular piano lessons since September 2012. With both instruments, he has already won several national prizes at the Jugend Musiziert competition. 

Benjamin Günst received the biennial Culture Prize of the City of Kiel in June 2024. He gave his first concerts as a soloist with orchestra at the age of eleven. Since then he has been a guest at orchestras such as the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra and the Kammerakademie Potsdam.

In addition to his solo activities, he has already taken part in several chamber music and master classes at home and abroad with professors such as Ana Chumachenco, Vadim Gluzman, Gerhard Schulz, Eberhard Feltz, Nora Chastain and Kolja Blacher, among others, several times as part of the Kronberg Academy. 

 

Kyungsik Shin, 1st prize winner, Viola

Described as a "musician with a warm sound and virtuosity" by world-renowned violist Tabea Zimmerman, viola winner Kyungsik Shin has established him as one of most compelling violist among his generation.

 Following his recent success winning the second prize as well as the "Gewa" prize at the 78th International Prague Spring Competition, he was named first prize winner of the 28th International Johannes Brahms Competition.

As an avid chamber musician, he participated at "Chamber Music Connects the World" performing with Gidon Kremer, Christian Tetzlaff, and Steven Isserlis at the Kronberg Academy. He has also took part in Seiji Ozawa International Chamber Music Festival, Tianjin Juilliard Chamber Music Festival, Ljubljana Music Festival, Třeboňská Noctura Music Festival, performing and expanding his musical ideas. 

Kyungsik began his studies at a very young age at the Korea National University of Arts, and the Seoul National University, studying with Eun-sik Choi. After graduating with the highest distinction, he continued his studies at the University of Arts Berlin with Prof. Hartmut Rohde where he completed his Master's Degree and is currently obtaining a Konzertexamen. 

Prize winners Violin; YiWei Gu (3rd prize), Varvara Vasylieva (2nd prize), Benjamin Günst (1st prize)

Violin

Prizes:
1st prize: Benjamin Günst (22), Kiel
2nd prize: Varvara Vasylieva (21), Basel
3rd prize: YiWei Gu (18), Berlin

Viola

Prizes:
1st prize: Kyungsik Shin (26), Berlin
2nd prize: Brian Isaacs (21), Berlin
3rd prize: Marina Kosaka (29), Munich

Jury:
David Geringas (Chair), Marianne Piketty, Kyung Sun Lee, Christoph Poppen, Lars Anders Tomter, Nils Mönkemeyer, Carol Rodland

Artists: 
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Pavel Baleff (Conductor)

Prize winners Viola; Brian Isaacs (2nd prize), Kyungsik Shin (1st prize), Marina Kosaka (3rd prize)

©️ WFIMC / FR 2024