Nov 4, 2011

Sini Simonen gave a perfect performance on November 4 at the Salmagundi Club! Simonen has already been awarded in several valued violin contests: Finalist, Sibelius Violin Contest 2005; 2nd prize, Carl Flesch -Violin Contest 2008; 1st prize, Cremona International Violin Solo Competition 2008; and 2nd prize, Rodolfo Lipizer -Violin Contest 2009.

Simonen has played recitals in Finland, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and Holland. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Finnish Radio Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, The Gyõr Philharmonic, the Kuopio Philharmonic and the Helsinki Strings. She has also toured as a chamber musician in Japan and Mongolia with the reowned violinist Midori. Her first commercial recording was published by Warner Music in 2010; she plays as a soloist of the Bach Double violin concerto with Réka Szilvay and the Helsinki Strings.

Her teacher of many years is Lara Lev, who was in the audience at this performance also, and seemed happy with her student’s performance!

Simonen is ready to compete in the upcoming Sibelius Violin Contest in Helsinki from November 21 to December 2, where she is one of two Finnish participants among 40 finalists. Her program at the club consisted of both solo pieces and compositions for violin and piano; she was accompanied by Oskar Jezior. She showed her mastery of both classical pieces such as a Solo violin sonata in C-major  by J. S. Bach, Violin concerto No. 5, A-major by Mozart, Capriccios No. 11 and 24 by N. Paganini and Ballade Op. 115, Danse caractéristique Op. 79/3 and Danse champêtre Op. 106 /1 by Jean Sibelius;  as well as modern compositions by Kaija Saariaho (Tocar) and  Ysaye (Solo violin sonata, No. 6).

We wish Sini success in the contest and hope to hear her again in New York, perhaps on a larger stage next time!