Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko won the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition, securing the prestigious Queen Mathilde Prize, €25,000, and the loan of the 1708 ‘Huggins’ Stradivari violin. US violinists Joshua Brown and Elli Choi secured second and third prizes, respectively, with additional notable recognitions for their performances.
Controversially, winner Udovychenko reportedly shook the hands of all the competition’s judges except one, Russian judge and preeminent violinist Vadim Repin. Udovychenko is from Kharkiv, Ukraine, which is currently under attack by Russian military forces.
Why it matters:
- Prestige and recognition: The Queen Elisabeth Competition is one of the most esteemed music competitions globally, providing winners with significant career opportunities and industry recognition.
- Cultural impact: By highlighting talented musicians from around the world, the competition promotes cultural exchange and the advancement of classical music.
- Geopolitics on the global competition stage: Udovychenko’s refusal to shake Repin’s hand is the latest example of geopolitics seeping into the classical music world. In a separate recent example, an Amsterdam performance by the Jerusalem Quartet was canceled, then reinstated, following concerns over the war in Gaza and subsequent public outcry.
