Six 1st Prizes Awarded at Young Concert Artists Auditions – Including VC 'Rising Star' Soo-Been Lee

Six 1st prizes have been awarded, just minutes ago, at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, in New York – including VC 'Rising Star', 14 year old violin virtuoso Soo-Been Lee, from South Korea.

The 2014 1st prize winners are: 14 year old Korean violinist Soo-Been Lee, 16 year old Chinese violist Ziyu Shen,  20 year old Korean cellist Sang-Eun Lee,  20 year old French cellist Edgar Moreau, 25 year old Japanese flutist Seiya Ueno - and 21 year old Hungarian pianist Daniel Lebhardt.

“The level this year of the finalists was absolutely stupendous, and I am just thrilled that we have six winners – it's a bumper crowd,” Young Concert Artists founder, Susan Wadsworth has told The Violin Channel.

L to R: Cellist Sang-Eun Lee, VC 'Rising Star' violinist Soo-Been Lee, pianist Daniel Lebhardt, violist Ziyu Shen, flutist Seiya Ueno & cellist Edgar Moreau

All six winners will be invited to join the Young Concert Artists' roster – granting access to a minimum of 3 years management services, career engagements, publicity and career guidance – plus coveted recital debuts at Merkin Concert Hall in New York, the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

“We are beyond trilled to be working with the absolutely extraordinary 14 year old prodigy, Soo-Been Lee,” Ms Wadsworth has said.

The Young Concert Artists International Auditions differ from a competition, as there are no rankings, and any number of winners can be selected - with each candidate competing against a standard of excellence, not each other.

Previous Young Concert Artists alumni include: Pinchas Zukerman, Ida Kavafian, Chee-Yun, Emanuel Ax and Murray Perahia – and VC 'Young Artists' Paul Huang, Bella Hristova, Benjamin Beilman, Ray Chen, Stephen Waarts and Hahn-Bin.

PICTURED: VC 'Rising Star' 14 year old, VC 'Rising Star' Soo-Been Lee, from South Korea.