Past WFISC Winners

Jonathan Swensen - 2019

Jonathan Swensen made his debut playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Porto Symphony Orchestra in 2017. Since this debut, Jonathan has performed with the Granada Chamber Orchestra, Florida’s Venice Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Wroclaw Chamber Orchestra and the Copenhagen Philharmonic. Jonathan won First Prize in the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and also First Prize in the 2018 Khachaturian International Cello Competition, alongside giving a gala concert performance in Yerevan with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan Swensen is currently pursuing a master’s degree with Professor Torleif Thedèen at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

Nathan Meltzer - 2017

Nathan Meltzer was the youngest ever winner of the Windsor Festival International String Competition - aged just 16 when he won in 2017. He returned to Windsor to perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra, as part of his first prize, following which he was signed by Hazard Chase for worldwide management. Nathan is studying under Itzhak Perlman at the Julliard School of Music.

You can watch him live here in a recent recording with the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra of the Carmen Fantasie, the very piece he played in his prize-winning performance in Windsor, March 2017:

Jiyoon Lee - 2015

Jiyoon Lee has most recently been appointed concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Berlin, following further competition success, amongst them winning the Carl Nielsen Competition in 2016, after coming to the attention of the musical world when she won WFISC in 2015. Resulting invitations from her successes have included concerto performances throughout Europe, and we have been thoroughly enjoying her WFISC Prize Champs Hill Recording which has just been released.

Benjamin Baker following winning WFISC 2013, that same year went on to be selected as a YCAT artist in the UK, then in 2017 he was selected as a YCA in the US - so appearing frequently on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as across the globe. Last summer saw him travelling back to his native New Zealand to compete in the Michael Hill International Violin Competition that where he won third prize, along with concerto performances, including a return invitation from the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Yuki Ito has been highly instrumental in developing a fully international career - appearing equally as frequently in his native Japan as here in the UK and throughout the rest of the world. His recording with Champs Hill as part of his WFISC prize was a stepping stone to many further things, not least of which is his second album released on Sony Music, and earlier this year his solo debut at the Wigmore Hall, London.