Kimia Corke (15) achieved outstanding success at the 5th edition of the Concours de Musique Riviera, which took place from 26 February to 1 March in Villeneuve (VD), winning First Prize with Distinction in the violin solo category with an impressive 98 points — the highest score in her age group. She was also awarded the prestigious Prix Jean-Jacques Balet, a special prize presented to one outstanding young musician following the Gala Concert of the competition.
For her competition performance, Kimia presented the Sarabande from J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 1 and Carmen Fantasy by Franz Waxman. In the Sarabande, she demonstrated refined musical sensitivity and stylistic awareness, shaping the lyrical lines with expressive phrasing and a warm, singing tone while maintaining the clarity and balance characteristic of Bach’s writing for solo violin.
In contrast, Waxman’s virtuosic Carmen Fantasy allowed Kimia to display brilliant technique and strong stage presence. She performed the dazzling passages, rapid runs and expressive melodies with confidence and energy, bringing out both the dramatic character and the fiery spirit of the work.
The jury was highly impressed by Kimia’s performance, praising the musical maturity and artistic confidence she displayed on stage. Her interpretation received 98 points — the highest score awarded in her category — earning her First Prize with Distinction.
Following her success in the competition, Kimia and her accompanying pianist returned to Villeneuve on 8 March to perform Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy at the Gala Concert of the First Prize winners. At the end of the concert, Kimia was awarded the prestigious Prix Jean-Jacques Balet, presented to one highly deserving student demonstrating exceptional musical talent.
Another highlight of the competition is the invitation for the laureates to perform at the Espace Consonance concert hall in Saxon (VS). On 8 May, Kimia will represent the Zakhar Bron School of Music once again, performing the First Movement of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3.
ZBSM Professional Programme violin student Kimia Corke joined the Zakhar Bron School of Music in 2021 and has been studying violin with Liana Tretiakova, the school’s founder and lead violin teacher, ever since. Although she lives in Geneva, her parents bring her to Zurich every week for her violin lessons before returning home the same day.
In addition to her individual violin training, Kimia also attends music theory classes at the school, further supporting her comprehensive musical education.
The Concours de Musique Riviera is a classical music competition held in Villeneuve (VD), Switzerland, at the Centre Musical Sylvia Waddilove, a concert venue overlooking Lake Léman near the historic Château de Chillon. The competition welcomes young violinists, cellists, pianists and guitarists, primarily from the French-speaking region of Switzerland.
The competition aims to promote musical culture and encourage young performers in their musical studies and artistic development. It takes place across several rounds in different age categories and concludes with a Gala Concert featuring the First Prize winners, where selected participants may also receive additional special awards from the jury.
Tags: Kimia Corke, Liana Tretiakova
Categories: Music Competition Awards
