Taiwanese violinist Benny Tseng was awarded the silver medal in the violin category of the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow on Wednesday. No one won the gold medal which meant that Tseng won the top prize. It was also the first time that a Taiwanese won in the prestigious competition.
In the final round, the 20-year old Tseng performed the Tchaikovsky violin concerto which all finalists had to play. The other piece was to be another concerto of the musician’s choice. Tseng chose one composed by Jean Sibelius.
Tseng has been seen as a musical prodigy ever since he was little. He never studied music, yet since he was 13 years old, he has won at major competitions including the Menuhin International Violin Competition and the Queen Elizabeth International Competition.
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is held every four years. It was Tseng’s second time competing in the event.