2016 Montreal International Violin Competition

Interview with Ayana Tsuji, Winner of the 2016 Montreal International Musical Competition - Violin

June 13, 2016, 3:00 PM · In a way, Montreal International Violin Competition first-place laureate Ayana Tsugi was following in the footsteps of her father, Masahiro Tsuji, when she started playing the violin at age three.

"We both were Suzuki kids," said her father, who also started violin at age three in the Suzuki method (in fact, Ayana told me that he studied in Japan with the late Shinichi Suzuki). Ayana also started in the Suzuki method, and though her father is not a professional violinist, he has been a driving force behind Ayana's hard work on the violin.

A native of Ogaki in central Japan, Ayana has been performing in competitions from a young age, winning numerous prizes. She began the international competition circuit around age 10, at the Osaka International Music Competition in 2008. Since then she has performed and won prizes in major international competitions, including second prize at the 2013 Music Competition of Japan in Tokyo; best performance of Paganini at the 2014 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis; fifth prize at the 2015 Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover; and second prize (top prize) at the 2015 Seoul International Music Competition. In the Montreal International Music Competition earlier this month, she not only won first prize but also five special prizes.

For Tsuji, competitions are stressful and nerve-wracking experiences which she does not enjoy -- until she gets on stage. Keep reading...