Alumni Top International Competition

The Menuhin Competition was held last week in Oslo, Norway and as usual From the Top alumni came out on top!  The Menuhin is an international competition open to violinists of all nationalities under the age of 22 and is one of the most prestigious music competitions in the world.

Anna Lee took 3rd prize

In 2008 (the competition is held every other year), From the Top alum Chad Hoopes took first prize in the Junior Division (up to age 15) and Mindy Chen took third.

This year, we are very pleased to announce that alums 13-year-old  Stephen Waarts and  Anna Lee, 14, took second and third prizes in the Junior Division.  In the Senior Division (ages 16-22), second prize went to From the Top alum Nigel Armstrong.  He was the only American on the podium with the other winners coming from China, Australia and Korea. The Telegraph reported on the competition.

Alice Ivy-Pemberton

Alums Alice Ivy-Pemberton and Eric Gratz also competed strongly in the competition. This year’s competition celebrated the 200th anniversary of Ole Bull (1810-1880), a legendary Norwegian violinist. Alice, who as the youngest competitor placed in the top 8, fittingly played American luthier Douglas Cox’s Opus 609 “Ole Bull” violin, made in 2008.

Emma Steele was supposed to compete but could not make it to Oslo due to Volcanic Ash!

Congrats to all!