Mezzo-soprano Ana Rita Coelho has won the Grand Prix Édige at the second edition of the Cascais Ópera International Vocal Competition in Portugal. Fellow mezzo-soprano Anna Tetruashvili received the “Teresa Berganza” First Prize for best female voice, while baritone Viktor Aksentijević was awarded the “Mauricio Bensaude” First Prize for best male voice. Sopranos made a strong showing, with Manhan Qi taking Second Prize, Defne Celik receiving both Third Prize and the award for Best Singer under 25, and Oksana Pynchuk winning the Stage Talent Award.
The 70th Kathleen Ferrier Competition has been won by mezzo-soprano Lily Mo Browne; tenor Philippe Durrant was awarded Second Prize. Mezzo-soprano Ellen Pearson received the Ferrier Loveday Song Prize, and Francesca Lauri received the Help Musicians Accompanist’s Prize. Notably, all four prizewinners have studied at London’s Royal College of Music.
Armenian violinist Haik Kazazyan, 42, has won the inaugural Classic Violin Olympus International Competition in Dubai, receiving €200,000 and
a custom Stradivari model crafted by luthier
Fabio Piagentini. Kazazyan triumphed over 11 other finalists in a six-round contest that included performances with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra. With no age limit, the competition welcomed participants from 17 to 48 years old, with each of the remaining finalists awarded €10,000.
Violinist Wu Mengdie has won the 18 to 23 age category of the 5th Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition. Second Prize went to Zhu Zun Zun and Yu Junhao took third.
Koshiro Takeuchi has won the inaugural Ion Voicu International Violin Competition in Bucharest after his performance of Tchaikovsky’s D major Violin Concerto with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and Gabriel Bebeșelea. He has previously won prizes at numerous competitions, including the 2023 Long-Thibaud Competition, the 2023 Premio Paganini Competition and the 2022 Seoul International Music Competition. Wakana Kimura was awarded Second Prize, and Jaime Naya Maceira took third place. Elie Hackel received the special prize for the best performance of the Voicu work.
Berlin-based Duo Vert has won First Prize at the 20th edition of the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition (CIMCL). Second Prize was awarded to Duo Nuvoletta and Third Prize went to Duo Musubi, who also received the Prize for Best Performance of Chants du Déversoir by Jean-Patrick Besingrand, a specially commissioned work.