Christian Li, 10, Australian violinist, becomes youngest winner of Prestigious Yehudi Menuhin International Competition

Australian violinist Christian Li has become the youngest winner to take home the first prize in one of the world’s most prestigious violin competitions — the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition.

Ten-year-old Li from Melbourne took out joint first in the Junior First Prize category alongside Singapore’s Chloe Chua, 11, at the 2018 competition at Victoria Hall in Geneva, Switzerland. Menuhin Competition @MenuhinComp The Junior prizewinners have been unveiled!!! And for the first time in history, the Jurors decided to share the first prize – which goes to the Competition’s youngest competitors CHLOE CHUA (Singapore, 11) & CHRISTIAN LI (Australia, 10)! #menuhincompetition #geneva2018. Li has been playing the violin since he was five years old, studying under Dr Robin Wilson, the Head of Violin at the Australian National Music Academy in Melbourne.

In 2017, he won first prize in the violin category of the Young Artist Semper Music International Competition in Italy and was also selected to perform at Carnegie Hall Isaac Stern Auditorium in NY in the American Protege Showcase 10-year Anniversary concert. “I am so happy to know that I was selected to take part in the Menuhin Competition,” he said ahead of his win.

The violinist said the most exciting part of the competition for him was having the opportunity to meet his heroes and favourite violin masters in person.

The Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists is now in its 35th year — founded by Yehudi Menuhin in 1983.

Christian Li (right) is a 10-year-old Asian Australian kid and together with 11-year-old Chloe Chua (right) from Singapore have just taken first prize at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin International Competition. It is the world leading international...