Home Workshops & Master Classes International Competition Donors Biography Contact

First Prize

Mr. Chirkov wins a prize of $10,000 cash, a New York debut, a CD recording and numerous engagements worldwide. His first performance was on October 9th at the Berlin 2010 Bass Festival. (Photo by Jack Unzicker )

Artem Chirkov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. He began to study cello at the Special Music Lyceum of the St. Petersburg Conservatory and at the age of 16 he took double bass with Prof. Kirillov at the Special Music Lyceum and later at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Prof. Shilo. Chirkov continued his postgraduate studies at the “Hochschule fur Music und Theater” in Munich, Germany with prof. Klaus Trumpf Chirkov won prizes in many international competitions: International competition “Virtuosi 2000 in St. Petersburg (Russia), International Competition in Toliatti (Russia), the International Competition “XXIV Internationale Markneukirchen Wettbeerb”(Germany), the Competition ” Bayrescher Orchestra Academy”, 1st prize in International Double Bass competition “J.M Sperger” Michaelstein (Gerrnany), 2nd prize in International Double bass competition “ISB” Richmond,Virginia(USA), and 1st prize in International Double Bass competition in Brno (Czech Republic). Chirkov held the Principal Double Bass position with the Hermitage Museum Orchestra “St.Petersburg Camerata.”

Second Prize

The Second prize of $5000 and a CD recording goes to Namgyun Kim from Korea.
(Photo by Jack Unzicker )

Namgyun Kim was a student of Sungwon Choi in Korea before beginning his studies in Germany from 2003-2004 at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Academy with Janne Saksala. He then studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt, Germany with Prof. Günter Klaus und Prof. Heinrich Braun where he received a Diploma. From 2007-2009 he studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Mannheim, Germany (OrchestraSoloist) with Prof. H. Braun. He continues his studies with Professor Braun now at the Hochschule fur Musik in Munich. He is the winner of numerous competitions including: 1999 Seoul, Korea Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition; 1999 1st Prize of Hyosung Catholic Competition; 1999 1st Prize of the Korean Music Society Competition; 2000 Winner of Daegu City Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition; 2000 Winner of Lutheran Music Festival Concerto Competition; and the 2006 1st Prize winner of the DongA Music Competition. He has been invited to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic, Frankfurter Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic, and NDR Radio.

Third Prize

The Third prize winner is Rex Surany from the United States, receiving $2500 and a CD recording. (Photo by Jack Unzicker )

Rex Surany is currently enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music Philadelphia, where he has a fulltuition scholarship. A third year student, he has studied with Hal Robinson and Edgar Meyer since 2007. He also took from Paul Ellison and David Moore at the Colburn School in Los Angeles in 2006. Mr. Surany has had the chance to work with Francois Rabbath, Etienne Lafranze, Ali Yazdanfar, Sebastien Dube, and Nick Walker at the Domaine Forget Academy, which he attended from 2003 to 2005 and in 2008. Other festivals include WaBass in 2008 with Hal Robinson, Ranaan Meyer, and Eric Larson and Aspen Music Festival in 2009 with Edgar Meyer and Chris Hanulic. At Aspen, he was placed into the chamber orchestra, and was selected to participate in the Brandenburg project, in which he collaborated with Gil Shaham, James Dunham, and Nicholas McGegen. In June 2008, Surany received the place second prize at the ISB Orchestral Competition. He has also won a prize at the concerto competition at West WindsorPlainsboro High School North where he performed Franck Proto’s “A Carmen Fantasy” with orchestra. As of now, he has a sponsoredchair in Haddonfield “Symphony in C.” He is pursuing interests in composing and arranging for contemporary ensembles and is currently leading a string trio with mandolin, guitar, and bass.