Australian violinist Emily Sun has been awarded First Prize – ₤6,000 – in the Bromsgrove International Musicians’ Competition. Held annually since 1981 at Bromsgrove School, UK, the competition is open to instrumentalists and vocalists of all nationalities aged between 18 and 25 (28 in the case of singers), and many finalists have gone on to national and international success, including Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson, who won the prize in 2002. This year’s jury comprised former Royal Welsh College of Music director Edmond Fivet, cellist Hannah Roberts and pianist Andrew Zolinsky.

“The adjudicators had a most difficult task this year as the three finalists had been selected from 12 semi-finalists heard last Friday,” said Chairman Ian Morris. “This year we had 108 applications from 38 different nationalities for just 54 places in the Preliminary Round of the competition.

“The finalists’ technique and playing was of world-class quality but the winner Emily Sun had that extra something that just pushed her past the post in front of her rivals.

“The really warm applause she received when Edmond Fivet, chairman of the adjudicators, announced her win showed that the audience also thought her win was just.”

Jury member Andrew Zolinsky, concert pianist and professor of piano at the...