Challenger's Live

A challenger's live concert was held on Thursday, 3rd of June at Sendai Mediatheque Open Square.
People were lined up to get a ticket..



A man in a suit didn't want to leave the line, and said "Trying to get a front seat".

Performers
YANG Yoonjung（Republic of Korea）
Appeared in green dress, then greeted in Japanese (!).
Audiences applaused a lot as she said "I dressed green because it's beautiful greenery season."



♪Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64



MC Ms. Keiko Shibota and and Ms. Sae Tahara interviewed after the performance.

Ms. YANG…
"I love flied eggplant, NATTO, ONSEN and TAIYAKI!"
"Also love ANIME by Hayao Miyazaki. I would call myself "MANIAC" not "OTAKU""



We all find her very lovely and glad she loves JAPAN.


The next performer was…
Brendan SHEA（United States of America）
♪Tchaikovsky
Melody



Mr. SHEA said "Everytime I play this piece, I feel like I'm going to my remembering place, then coming back home."

♪Prokofiev
Violin Concerto No.2 in G Minor, Op.63 (2nd movement)



"I remember I listened to this piece with my mother when I was 13 or 14. I felt it's love song. This is my favorite." He said.

He saw the violin in window display and told his mother "I love to play this". It was the beginning of his career. He was three at that time.

Eléonore DARMON (FRANCE) ＆YING Chiujan (TAIWAN)
♪Prokofiev
Sonata for 2 violins op.56 (1st and 2nd movement)



Sounded like two violins were talking or fighting… however, they eventually making up with each other. (It's my first time to listen to this piece.)

Ms. DARMON and Ms. YING has known each other for 9 years, being very good friend and rivals. I heard their friendship has run deeper after this competition.


Eléonore DARMON（FRANCE）
♪Brahms
Violin Sonata No.2, op.100 (1st movement)

♪Massenet
Meditation de Thais

♪Brahms
Scherzo

♪Fauré
Après un rêve



Ms. DARMON, a Brahms lover, turns an OKONOMIYAKI lover. "Even I try many kinds of Japanese foods, OKONOMIYAKI never let my heart go. Audience loved her cute talk very much.

There was an accident before Ms. YING's performance. We heard her tuning in backstage. Although we worried about that, she showed up at the stage smiling with her violin as if nothing had happened.


YING Chiujan (TAIWAN)
♪Beethoven　: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (3rd movement)

♪Kreisler
Caprice Viennois
Tambourin Chinois



Ms. Ying is a student of Mr.SVETLIN ROUSEV, the first prize winner of the first SIMC. He told about this competition to Ms. Ying.

According to Ms. Ying, "I don't get nervous. I guess it's because I do Yoga."
(Oh yes, she looks great.)

-Grand Finale-
All the performers played "HAMABE-no-UTA" together, a Japanese traditional song.
We enjoyed beautiful harmony.



Prof. Soh, chief judge, and Mrs. Soh came to this event. Prof. Soh friendly talked to the performers, "Enjoyed your performance very much. Much more fun! Thank you."



-Autograph Session-
Elderly woman was happy to get the one. She said "I told I'm your fan. An interpreter helped me.
Everyone seemed to have a good time.



Thank you very much for the performers and organizers of this beautiful event.


Kurihara, SIMC volunteer for PR