{"id":105430,"date":"2024-06-25T13:56:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T17:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=105430"},"modified":"2024-06-25T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T18:00:01","slug":"scoop-canadian-violist-emad-zolfaghari-takes-home-first-prize-primrose-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/06\/25\/scoop-canadian-violist-emad-zolfaghari-takes-home-first-prize-primrose-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Canadian Violist Emad Zolfaghari Takes Home First Prize At Primrose Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R:
L-R: Violist Emad Zolfaghari (Photo courtesy of the Primrose Competition); Graphic courtesy of the Primrose International Viola Competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canadian violist Emad Zolfaghari has won first prize at the Primrose International Viola Competition. The 17th Primrose Competition took place at the Colburn School in Los Angeles from June 17 through 22, presented by the Colburn School and the American Viola Society.<\/p>\n

The 19 year-old Canadian winner currently studies at the Curtis Institute, where he is an Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams Jr. Fellow, and co-principal viola of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.<\/p>\n

The prestigious competition, established in 1979, is the World Cup for the often neglected instrument.<\/p>\n

Emad Zolfaghari, Viola<\/h2>\n

In addition to first prize, Emad took home the audience prize at the competition, where he performed Bela Bart\u00f3k\u2019s Viola Concerto during the final competition round.<\/p>\n

The win includes a cash prize of $15,000, along with an invitation to perform at the American Viola Society Festival (next in 2026), and to participate in the semi-finals of the Concert Artist Guild Competition. The latter is an important career builder for young musicians, as winners receive a complete management package of support, performances in New York as well as other concert bookings, professional development initiatives, and much more.<\/p>\n

However, he\u2019s no stranger to competitions or wins, having already taken home:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • First prize at the 2023 Irving M. Klein International String Competition;<\/li>\n
  • The Fran\u00e7ois Schubert Grand Prize at the 2022 OMNI Music Competition;<\/li>\n
  • First prize at the International Morningside Music Bridge Competition;<\/li>\n
  • Second prize at the 2022 Johansen International String Competition;<\/li>\n
  • Third prize in the OSM String Competition;<\/li>\n
  • Second prize at the 2021 Ronald Sachs International Music Competition;<\/li>\n
  • First prize at the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Competition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Emad was accepted into the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists on full scholarship at the age of 12. He studied for a four year period with Theresa Rudolph, Assistant Principal Viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He also performed as a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.<\/p>\n

    He was accepted at the Curtis Institute at the age of 16.<\/p>\n

    As a soloist, Emad has performed with l\u2019Orchestre M\u00e9tropolitain at the Maison Symphonique in Montr\u00e9al under the baton of Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Roy Thomson Hall, the National Philharmonic in Strathmore Hall, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and the National Metropolitan Philharmonic, and others.<\/p>\n