Here are the six finalists of the Sibelius Violin Competition. Each one will play two concertos in the final round on Dec. 1-3 at the Music Centre in Helsinki. You can watch the final round on TV's Teema Channel daily at 6 p.m. Helsinki time, or on line via webcast at yle.fi/klassinen
Friederike Starkloff was born in Chemnitz, Germany, in 1990. She has studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin and at The Freiburg School of Music. "The Prokofjev Sonata, which I played in the semi-final round, is awesome music, but after those thirty minutes it was tough to keep going." View Friederike Starkloff's competition performances.
Emmanuel Tjeknavorian was born in 1995 in Vienna. He has studied at the Vienna University of Music and the Performing Arts. "My biggest passion besides music is soccer and especially rooting for Real Madrid." View Emmanuel Tjeknavorian's competition performances.
Nancy Zhou was born in 1993 in San Antonio, Texas (USA). She has studies at the New England Conservatory. "The second time around in the Sibelius violin competition has not brought up any specific surprises. My grandmother came over this time, and after the semi-final round she will cook a Chinese dinner for us and our host family. I'm looking forward to that!" View Nancy Zhou's competition performances.
Mayumi Kanagawa was born in 1994 in Frankfurt, Germany. She has studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin and in the Colburn School in the U.S. "Asian kitchen is my passion, but unfortunately in Berlin, where I study, I can't get the kind of ingredients I'd like." View Mayumi Kanagawa's competition performances.
Christel Lee was born in 1990 in Bloomington, Indiana (USA). She has studied at the Münich School of Music and Theatre, at the Kronberg Academy and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. "During my free time I read a lot. Right now I have Karl Ove Knausgård's My Struggle on my nightstand." View Christel Lee's competition performances.
Minami Yoshida was born in 1998 in Nara, Japan. She studies in Tokyo at the Toho Gakuen School of Music. "At first my teacher at school was upset about my participating, but finally I got a permission and even some encouragement. My violin teacher was the one who suggested taking part in this competition." View Minami Yoshida's competition performances.
