Top prize in Maj Lind Piano Competition goes to Sofya Gulyak

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Victory in the 2nd International Maj Lind Piano Competition, which was held in Helsinki from May 24th to June 7th, went to 27-year old Sofya Gulyak of Russia, after her passionate interpretation of Sergei Rahmaninov’s 3rd Piano Concerto in the final round in Finlandia Hall late on Thursday evening.
      The competition finals were completed on Wednesday and Thursday evening in Finlandia Hall, with the six finalists each performing a piano concerto of their choice.
      Prior to her victory, the winner had already been invited to appear as a soloist with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
     
The seven-member jury awarded the top prize of EUR 20,000 to Sofya Gulyak, one of the advance favourites to win. She studies in Imola, in Italy, and her previous awards include the first prize in a piano competition in San Marino.
      All the finalists but one were from Finland, Russia, or Estonia. The selection of the winner was by no means easy. After the chamber music stage, the jury was still rather puzzled, with nothing to choose between the three top finalists. However, after the concertos had been heard, the jury voted for Sofya Gulyak as the outright winner.
     
"Gulyak was the most skilful pianist in the competition. Even though she showed a weak spot in the chamber music finals, she is a massive virtuoso", praised Gustav Djupsjöbacka, the chairman of the jury.
      Second place (EUR 15,000) went to Roope Gröndahl of Finland, and third (EUR 10,000) to Violetta Khachikian of Russia.
      Finn Marko Mustonen, Yoonjung Han of South Korea, and Irina Zahharenkova from Estonia took the fourth, fifth, and sixth places respectively and were each awarded a prize of EUR 4,000.
      The Maj Lind Piano Competition was held as an international event for the second time this year. As a national competition it was first arranged already in 1945. The previous winner in 2002 was Alberto Nosé of Italy.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Victory in Maj Lind Piano Competition goes to Alberto Nosè (23.8.2002)

Links:
  Helsinki International Maj Lind Piano Competition

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