Ling Yunzhi won first prize in the Gisborne International Music Competition in New Zealand.
Ling Yunzhi, a third-year violin major, won first prize in the Gisborne International Music Competition held in New Zealand from 27 November to 2 December 2006.
Yunzhi emerged as the first prize winner after three rounds of competition which attracted 55 international musicians. In the finals on 2 December held at theWar Memorial Theatre, she was pitched against guitarist Tom Ward and violinist Wen Zhu from Australia. Yunzhi’s delivery of Brahms’ Violin Concerto, Chausson’s Poème and Paganini’s Caprice No. 13 won the top prize. She was awarded NZ$8000 and was invited to perform as a soloist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in its 50th anniversary year.
Yunzhi comes from Shanghai, China where she studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She joined Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in 2004 to study with Qian Zhou, Head of Strings. Yunzhi plays on a 1760 A. Gragnani violin on loan from the Rin Collection.