Making Menuhin VPM

She learned to play on a Froot Loops box. Now, she's set to compete in "The Olympics of the Violin." Maya Anjali Buchanan shares how her rural upbringing in South Dakota, along with a hectic childhood travel schedule, helped transform her into one of the world's top young violinists.
Hear her perform the Largo and Allegro Assai movements from Bach's Sonata No 3 in C Major for Solo Violin and Paganini's Caprice No. 5.
The 20-year old attends the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA, and is a senior competitor in Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Visit vpm.org/menuhin for more information on the upcoming competition.

He picked up the instrument at age 3, and by 18 became the first American ever to win the prestigious Lipizer International Violin Competition. Matthew Hakkarainen credits his success to the support of his parents and teachers, as well as his exploration of art and literature, which he uses to inspire the feelings he conveys when playing his violin.
Hear him perform the Adagio, Sicilienne and Presto movements from Bach’s Sonata Number 1 in G Minor.
The 19-year old attends the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA, and is a senior competitor in Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Visit vpm.org/menuhin for more information on the upcoming competition.

She views the violin as a replica of the human voice, and dives into the tone and emotions with each performance. Massachusetts native Keila Wakao also draws on a deep emotional connection she's developed with her family through music, particularly with her father, who has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for more than 30 years.
Hear her perform Georg Philipp Telemann’s Fantasia for Solo Violin in B Minor.
The 14-year old currently studies with Donald Weilerstein and Soovin Kim from the New England Conservatory of Music, and is a junior competitor in Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Visit vpm.org/menuhin for more information on the upcoming competition.

His parents knew his potential as a violinist at an early age, even making him stop playing basketball for fear of him damaging his fingers. Tianyu Liu has followed through on his parents' belief, and calls on the technical approach of his home country of China, the focus on musicality from his time in America and the emotion of his audiences to inform his playing style.
Hear him perform the third movement from Bach’s Solo Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor and the first movement from Eugene Ysaye’s Solo Violin Sonata No. 4.
The 21-year old currently attends College of Charleston in South Carolina, and is a senior competitor in Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Visit vpm.org/menuhin for more information on the upcoming competition.

Ottawa native Kerson Leong won first prize in the junior division in the Menuhin Competition Oslo 2010, and has since become well-known as one of the world's best violinists. He shares how his father's experimentation helped him approach his music in a scientific manner, and how he used those concepts as the foundation for his playing.
Since winning the competition, he has dedicated much of his time to educating other young violinists, even starting a YouTube channel, Art of Etude, where he shares tips and tools for advancing the art form.
Hear him perform Estrellita by Manuel Ponce and the Allemande movement from the 4th Violin Sonata by Eugène Ysaÿe. Visit vpm.org/menuhin for more information on Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021.

In addition to playing the violin, Shannon Ma is also passionate about dance, filmmaking and writing. She shares the influences of dance on the musicality of her playing style, as well as excerpts from an essay she wrote on growing up Asian in America, with the goal of helping to break down stereotypes that exist about Asians in the music community.
Hear her perform the prelude from Bach's Partita No. 3 in E Major and Kreisler's Marche Miniature Viennese.
The 14-year old currently attends the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and is a junior competitor in Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Visit vpm.org/menuhin for more information on the upcoming competition.