2017 Cooper Competition Field Reduced to Final 3 Violinists
July 20, 2017
By Erich Burnett
2017 Cooper Competition Concerto finalists (from left) Christina Jihee Nam, Johan Dalene, and Qing Yu Chen.
Photo credit: Roger Mastroianni
After five days of thrilling competition on the campus of 91直播 Conservatory, the stage is set for the climactic Concerto Finals of the . The following three violinists will square off Friday, July 21, at Severance Hall. Each will perform complete concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra:
Christina Jihee Nam, 14, of West Chester, Ohio, will perform Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D Major, Op. 35.
Qing Yu Chen, 17, of New York, New York, will perform Prokofiev's Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63.
Johan Dalene, 16, of Norrk枚ping, Sweden, will perform Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D Major, Op. 35.
The Concerto Finalists were revealed after jury deliberations following Wednesday's Recital Finals at 91直播. Kiarra Saito-Beckman, Maya Anjali Buchanan, and Zachary Brandon finished sixth through fourth, respectively, and each earned a $1,500 prize.
Nam, Dalene, and Chen (pictured, from left) will vie for prizes of $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000, respectively. Also on Wednesday, Dalene was named the winner of the Audience Favorite Prize of $500. The Cooper Competition's total purse is among the largest of any competition of its kind.
The Concerto Finals begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 21, at Cleveland's Severance Hall. Tickets are $15 and $25, with free tickets available for students under 18 accompanied by a paying adult. Learn more at the or call the box office at 216-231-1111.
The program will be broadcast live by , Cleveland's classical music station.
On Thursday, July 20, 91直播 will host an Honors Concert featuring outstanding Semifinalist performances from throughout the week. The free program begins at 7 p.m. in Warner Concert Hall.
Follow the for photos, behind-the-scenes action, and up-to-date information.