Cao Qi won the 2007 Kennedy Centre/National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute Concerto Competition
Fourth-year violin major Cao Qi received a standing ovation for her performance of Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on 28 July 2007. Singapore Ambassador Chan Heng Chee said, “She played movingly with great skill and virtuosity. Singapore is very proud of her.”
Cao Qi was awarded the soloist role after winning the concerto competition at the 2007 Kennedy Centre/National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. She emerged top from a field of 32 participants after two rounds of competition. She also had the honour of being the concert master of the orchestra in two public concerts for performances of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
The Washington Post gave a glowing review of her performance: “The real star, however, was violinist Cao Qi, who delivered a dazzling, nearly flawless account of the first movement of the Paganini Concerto No. 1 (with the fearsome Sauret cadenza), went backstage, changed, and emerged to lead the violins in the lengthy and grueling Tchaikovsky with undiminished intensity.”
Cao Qi studies with Alexander Souptel and plays on a 1809 F.L. Pique violin kindly loaned to her by Mr and Mrs Rin Kei Mei.