05/04/2024
New Press Fellows arrive at Wolfson
Wolfson MPhil student Churen Li has been awarded First Prize in the Cambridge University Music Society Concerto Competition.
Yesterday she played the Piano Concerto No. 2, Op.18, I (1901) by Rachmaninov (1873-1943), accompanied by Antonia Huang. Wolfson Director of Music Lynette Alcántara said,
"I was thrilled to be present, along with many Wolfson supporters, at yesterday’s final of the Cambridge University Musical Society Concerto Competition in the gorgeous acoustic of West Road Concert Hall. Wolfson’s Brian Moore Accompanist Scholar, pianist Churen Li performed fourth of five finalists playing the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto with great flair and exquisitely beautiful phrasing. The competitors were all outstanding musicians and I am delighted for Churen. She will have the opportunity to perform a concerto with one of the CUMS orchestras later in the year."
After learning the news that she had won the competition, Churen said,
"The CUMS Concerto Competition was a wonderful experience for me! I must give huge thanks to my accompanist, Antonia, for her outstanding playing that allowed me to play my best. I am also very grateful to all who came to support me at the concert — from CCCF, my Wolfpack friends, members of the Wolfson Choir, and of course our beloved choir director Lyn. I am looking forward to my upcoming recitals at Wolfson and the concerto performance next year."
This is the second time that a Wolfson student has won the competition; Andrew Goldman won the competition in 2012.
Churen was previously awarded the University Instrumental Award for Chamber Music and the Brian Moore Accompanist Scholarship. Some of Churen's beautiful performances are available on YouTube.
Her next appearance at Wolfson will be at the Lent concert on 17 March, The Feminine Mystique, part of the Wolfson Explores |Transformation| programme, when she will accompany the choir in addition to playing a few solos.
Many warm congratulations to Churen.
