We are proud of all our participants and winners. Listed below are just a few of our past participants and their accomplishments since the 2018 JIC took place (listed in alphabetical order by last name). Read more about past JIC winners at our website (fmmcfoundation.org).
Phoenix Avalon, violin (third prize, 2018) is a member of the Isidore Quartet, which won the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition. Included in the prize is $25,000 (Canadian) and a three-year artistic development program. Phoenix also qualified to compete in this year's Wieniawski Violin Competition.
James Baik, cello (finalist, 2018) won first prize in the 2019 Irving M. Klein International String Competition, which includes an award of $13,000 and performing opportunities.
Michał Balas, cello (first prize tied, 2018) won first prize in the 2022 Classic Strings Cello Competition, which took place in Dubai, UAE. He also won a special prize for the best performance of a Maltese piece. He was awarded a €50,000 cash prize, along with a tour of ten concerts with an honorarium of €5,000 per concert.
Benjamin Beilman, violin (third prize, 2006) was appointed in January 2022 to the faculty of the Curtis Institute.
Lara Boschkor, violin (first prize, 2015) won third place (tied) in the 56th International Paganini Competition, which took place in Genoa, Italy in October 2021.
Beatrice Chen, viola (first prize, 2018) won a section viola position with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with employment starting in the Fall of 2022.
Brannon Cho, cello (first prize, 2012) won first prize and was named a favorite of the shadow jury in the VI International Paulo Cello Competition (including a monetary prize of €20,000), which was held in Helsinki, Finland, in October 2018. Brannon was awarded a prestigious Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation scholarship in January 2020 and was awarded the 2020 Janos Starker Foundation Award, which includes a prize of $35,000.
Zlatomir Fung, cello (first prize, 2015) won first prize in the 2018 Schoenfeld International Cello Competition in Harbin, China. This included a $30,000 award as well as a solo engagement with the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra. He tied for second prize in the VI International Paulo Cello Competition in October 2018. He won the gold medal (first prize) in the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition, the first American in 30 years to win this prize. Zlatomir was recruited by the Kirshbaum Associates agency, joining a roster of artists that includes Pinchas Zukerman and Andras Schiff, and was signed by Intermusica for Europe (except Russia), Asia (except Japan), and Australasia. Intermusica’s roster includes some of the most in-demand of today’s classical performers. He gave his Carnegie Hall debut recital on October 19, 2021 with pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen.
Maria Ioudenitch, violin (second prize, 2012) won first prize in the Ysaÿe International Violin Competition and the Ysaÿe Grand Prize at the 2021 Ysaÿe International Violin Competition in Liège, Belgium, which included a €3000 award as well as a professional recording on the AZRU Classical label, valued at €4000. Maria also won first prize in the 2021 Tibor Varga International Violin Competition and first prize in the 2021 Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Hannover, Germany, which includes an award of €30,000, plus an additional €10,000 for being chosen as a finalist.
The Zelter String Quartet, one of whose violinists is Gallia Kastner (first prize, 2012), won the Lerman Gold Prize at the 2021 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition in Easton, Maryland. The prize includes a cash award of $10,000.
Alice Lee, violin (second prize, 2015) won second prize in the 2018 Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition in Vienna, Austria.
Christine Jeonghyoun Lee, cello (second prize, 2006; formerly using the name Jeonghyoun Lee), won joint first prize in the 2018 Isang Yun International Cello Competition in Korea, with a prize of KRW 30,000,000 (USD $27,000) plus important debut opportunities. She was a semifinalist in the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Hae Sue Lee, viola (first prize, 2015) won the 2018 Primrose Viola Competition ($15,000 award).
Yuchen Liu, viola (third prize, 2015), won second prize in the 2019 Lionel Tertis Viola Competition, which includes an award of £5,000.
Sang Eun Lee, cello (first prize, 2009) won joint first prize in the 2018 IsangYun International Cello Competition in Korea, with a prize of KRW 30,000,000 (USD $27,000) plus important debut opportunities.
Charlotte Marckx, violin (second prize, 2018) won the gold medal and a prize for best Bach performance at the 2018 Stulberg International Competition.
Krysztof Michalski, cello (first prize tied, 2018) won third prize (tied) in the 2022 Kodály Competition, held in Debrecen, Hungary.
Taeguk Mun, cello (Best Performance of Commissioned Work, 2012) was a finalist in the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Junping Qian, viola (second prize, 2006) in 2018 was appointed assistant conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, chosen by audition out of 250 applicants. Previous appointees in this two-year position have gone on to lead major orchestras.
Julian Rhee, violin (first prize, 2018) won second prize, the prize for best Bach performance, and the prize for the best performance of the commissioned work in the 2018 Irving M. Klein International String Competition. His string quartet won the Junior Division Gold Medal in the 2018 Fischoff Competition. He also was chosen to be a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He won first prize in the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition held in Boca Raton, Florida in January 2020. Prizes include $30,000, three years of management, 30 concerts with orchestra, and web development. He was awarded the 2020 Arkady Fomin scholarship, which is sponsored by the North Shore Chamber Music Festival. Julian also won the 2021 Astral National Auditions; the award includes career development mentorship, marketing materials, performance opportunities, and networking with top professionals in the field. In 2022, he won second place (Silver) in the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.
Samuel Rosenthal, viola (third prize, 2018) won second prize in the 2021 Primrose International Viola Competition.
Santiago Cañón Valencia, cello (second prize, 2012) won the coveted Starker Award in 2018, which includes a $35,000 prize. He was a finalist in the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Nancy Zhou, violin (first prize, 2009) won first prize ($100,000 award) the 2018 Shanghai Isaac Stern Competition. She is now under management of Fazer Artists’ Management, Inc.