Kimia Corke, a 13-year-old ZBSM Professional Programme violin student, won Third Prize at the V Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition, held from 4–14 July 2024 at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. She was also awarded a Special Prize for the Best Performance of ‘In Memory’ by Shlomo Mintz.
Named after the renowned Hungarian violin pedagogue, the Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition brings together young violinists from around the world. Held at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest as part of the Festival Academy Budapest, the competition takes place every two years and has been organised since 2017.
The competition consists of three rounds: the first round features a solo recital programme including works for violin and piano as well as solo violin repertoire; the second round presents a longer recital programme with chamber music and virtuoso works; and the final round gives selected finalists the opportunity to perform with a chamber orchestra.
The 2024 edition brought together 42 young violinists from 18 countries, competing in two age categories: under 15 and 15–22. For Kimia, it marked her debut at the competition, which resulted in two prestigious prizes.
Kimia opened the competition with a programme that combined elegance and virtuosity. Her first-round repertoire included:
Her interpretation of Mozart was marked by clarity, stylistic refinement, and natural musical phrasing, capturing the elegance and balance of the Classical style.
In contrast, Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo capriccioso brought brilliance, virtuosity, and dramatic flair. Its dazzling passages highlighted Kimia’s technical confidence and strong stage presence, immediately capturing the audience’s attention.
This performance secured her a place in the Semi-Final round of the competition.
In the semi-final round, Kimia presented a demanding and diverse programme:
In Bach, Kimia demonstrated clarity, articulation, and stylistic sensitivity, shaping each phrase with precision and musical elegance.
The finale of Bruch’s concerto provided a dramatic contrast, performed with passion, strong rhythmic drive, and vibrant energy.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening was her performance of In Memory by Israeli violinist, conductor and composer Shlomo Mintz, who was also serving as President of the competition jury.
Her interpretation was deeply expressive and introspective, with a warm, singing tone and remarkable emotional control, unfolding like a quiet musical narrative.
Kimia’s performance stood out for its artistic maturity and sincerity, leaving a strong impression on both the jury and the audience. As a result, she advanced to the Final round of the competition.
In the final round, Kimia performed Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, ‘Summer’ from The Four Seasons, with the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra.
She played with precision, brilliance, and rhythmic vitality, while the lyrical moments revealed a dramatic intensity reflecting the turbulent character of the concerto. The performance was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
At the conclusion of the competition, Kimia was awarded Third Prize as well as a Special Prize for the Best Performance of ‘In Memory’ by Shlomo Mintz.
Her participation in the competition was not only a remarkable competitive achievement but also an important artistic milestone. All rounds were broadcast live by The Violin Channel, allowing an international audience to follow the competition as it unfolded.
Kimia Corke, a Professional Programme violin student at the Zakhar Bron School of Music, joined the school in 2021 and has since been studying with its founder and lead violin teacher, Liana Tretiakova. Although she lives in Geneva, her parents travel with her to Zurich each week for her violin lessons before returning home the same day. Alongside her studies in Zurich, Kimia also works in Geneva with violin teacher Anica-Dumitrita Vieru.
At the competition, Kimia was supported not by one, but by two violin teachers. During the first round and the semi-final, she worked intensively with ZBSM violin teacher Anica-Dumitrița Vieru.
After it became known that Kimia had advanced to the final round, her teacher Liana Tretiakova flew from Zurich to Budapest to support her during the final days of the competition.
Kimia’s success at the Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition marks an important milestone in her artistic journey and reflects the dedicated work of both the young violinist and her teacher. The Zakhar Bron School of Music warmly congratulates Kimia, Anica-Dumitrița and Liana on this outstanding achievement and wishes them continued success on their musical path.
Tags: Anica Vieru, Kimia Corke, Liana Tretiakova, Violin Competition
Categories: Music Competition Awards
