Congratulations to María Dueñas, who has won first prize in the 2021 Menuhin Competition Senior Division.
Here is a list of all the prizewinners that were announced Saturday in the 2021 Menuhin Competition Senior Division (click on their names to read their bios):
First Prize: María Dueñas, 18, of Spain
Second Prize: Simon Zhu, 20, of Germany (Also won the Joint Mozart Prize, and EMCY Prize)
Third Prize: Hana Chang, 18, of Singapore/Japan/USA (Also won the Joint Mozart Prize)
Fourth Prize: Karisa Chiu, 21, of the USA
Joint Composer Award: Emily Shehi, 22, of the USA
María Dueñas, from southern Spain, studies with Boris Kuschnir at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK). “Dreams make no distinction about nationality or social background,” María said. “They are there to be fought for and to be reached. As a winner of the Competition in the Senior division Richmond 2021, I’m becoming part of Lord Yehudi Menuhin’s legacy, one of the greatest honors I could ever think of. It’s like touching the moon with the tip of my fingers!”
In the Final Round, María performed Lutoslawski’s Subito; Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, Andante cantabile; and Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Allegro non troppo. María wins US$20,000, plus a two-year loan of a golden period Stradivarius violin from the private collection of Jonathan Moulds CBE through the Beare’s International Violin Society, and a bow made by Christophe Landon.
