Marimbist Ji Su Jung has won first prize in the Houston Symphony’s annual Ima Hogg Competition, which comes with a $25,000 prize and a solo performance at Jones Hall with the orchestra on July 11 led by Associate Conductor Robert Franz. Ji Su Jung, a graduate student at the Yale School of Music, also received the audience choice award. The awards were presented on June 2 at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where the competition took place. In addition to the cash prize and performance with the Houston Symphony, Jung will participate in a week-long education and community engagement residency. Second prize was awarded to violinist Hyun Jae Lim, who received $10,000 and a solo appearance with the Houston Symphony led by guest conductor Kensho Watanabe on June 30. Third- and fourth-place prizes were awarded to cellist Alexander Hersh and violinist Michael Ferri, who won $5,000 and $1,000 cash prizes, respectively. Previous winners of the competition include Frank Huang, former Houston Symphony concertmaster and current New York Philharmonic concertmaster; Houston Symphony Principal Keyboardist Scott Holshouser; and Houston Symphony Principal Harpist Megan Conley.
Posted June 4, 2018
