YOUTH CATEGORY

Mindy Chen (11 years old, the Grand Price Winner of the 1st Stradivarius International Violin Competition Youth Category), now a fifth grader, was born in California on Feb. 14, 1996. She started playing the violin at the age of 4 and has been studying with Mr. Li Lin, a teacher from the Preparatory Division of San Francisco Conservatory of Music for 6 years.

Besides playing the violin, Mindy has many other interests, including reading fantasy books, singing, playing the piano, watching TV and playing computer games. After the competition Ms. Chen has had appearances on the Tonights Show with Jay Leno, been featured in major newspapers, and has an upcoming article in Teen Strings Magazine in May. She also is scheduled to perform the Paganini Violin Concerto in D Major on November 8th, 2008 with the Salt Lake Symphony.

GRAND PRIZES

1st Grand Prize: Mindy Chen, CA

2nd Grand Prize: Jennifer Liu, CA

3rd Grand Prize: Ashley Thakur, NY

UPPER DIVISION

1st prize: Jennifer Liu, CA

2nd prize: Eric Gratz, CA

3rd prize: Deborah Ferry, UT

Honorable Mention of a Utah Native: David Price

MIDDLE DIVISION

1st prize: Ashley Thakur, NY

2nd prize: Rachel Ostler, FL