Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko triumphed in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition 2024 on Saturday evening, bringing home the first prize, Belga News Agency reports.
This week, the 12 international candidates selected for the final of the 20th Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition took to the stage of the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
After all violinists had performed, jury president Gilles Ledure thanked all the candidates who had participated in the 20th violin session, the media, the Queen for her participation in preparing the Competition, and the jury members. "We would like to thank all the candidates taking part this year. They have all contributed to the exceptional standard."
Ledure then announced the winners just after midnight on Saturday night. Dmytro Udovychenko's performance, showcasing his exceptional talent, impressed the jury the most.
L-R: Third place US Elli Choi, winner Ukrainian Dmytro Udovychenko and second place US Joshua Brown pictured after the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition 2024, at the Bozar concert hall in Brussels on Saturday 1 June. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
First prize (€25,000) went to Udovychenko from Ukraine, and second place (€20,000) was awarded to Joshua Brown from the United States. Elli Choi took home the bronze medal (€17,000), followed by Kevin Zhu (€12,500) and Julian Rhee (€10,000), also from the US. Sixth place (€8,000) went to Minami Yoshida from Japan.
Udovychenko was the only European to make it to the final of the competition this year. "It's impossible for me to put into words what's happening tonight," he told RTBF. "It's the most important moment of my life, my family are here, it's my birthday, it's going to be a great night!"
The evening came to an awkward end, however, when Udovychenko ostentatiously refused to shake hands with Russian Vadim Repin, even though he shook hands with all the other members of the jury, according to La Libre.
