By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
South Korean violinist Lee Je-hye won the first prize at the 7th International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart.
The event, which took place from May 13 to 24 in Ausburg, Germany, brought together 52 young violinists born between 1979 and 1994. The 23-year-old artist presented Mozart's Concerto in A Major, KV 219, which ``not only convinced the jury but also played into the hearts of the audience,'' according to a local (German) report.
Lee takes home not only the Mozart Prize, which includes 12,500 euros (about 21 million won) and concert engagements with prestigious ensembles such as the Ausburg Philharmonic Orchestra and BadenBaden Philharmonic, but also the Audience Award of 1,500 euros.
Lee debuted here at a young age and currently studies under Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory in Massachusetts. A winner of several events including the 2005 Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition, she recently graced the opening night of the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation's Young Artist Concert Series.
The second and third prizes went to Friederike Starkloff, 18, from Germany and Roman Patocka, 28, from the Czech Republic. Two other competitors of Korean heritage, Kang Su-yeon (Australia) and Park Hye-yoon (Korea), made it to the semifinals.
The Leopold Mozart event is presided by artistic director Julius Berger and honorary president Gidon Kremer.