Wheelchair-bound Violinist Im Hyun-jae Wins Major International Competition in the U.S.
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Violinist Im Hyun-jae (28) won first prize and two special awards at the 4th Elma Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) in Boca Raton, Florida. Performing from a wheelchair, he played Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor with the Lynn University Philharmonia in the final. Im also received best performances for the commissioned piece “Wood Sprite” by Melinda Wagner and for Eugène Ysaÿe’s unaccompanied sonata, becoming a triple champion. A talented player who began violin at age seven and studied at the Curtis Institute, Im survived a serious traffic accident in May 2020 that led to multiple surgeries and two years in hospital. He resumed practicing in June 2024, reached later stages of major competitions within months, and won the Seoul International Music Competition in December before triumphing at EOIVC. The EOIVC, founded by Tchaikovsky Competition winner Elma Oliveira to support young musicians, is held every three years for players aged 18–30. Im’s prizes include $30,000 for the first prize and $20,000 in special awards, plus more than 30 international performance engagements over the next three years in cities such as New York, Boston, and Cremona (Italy).
