Malaysian violinmakers win four medals at international competition in Italy

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Three Malaysian violinmakers recently won four medals at the 17th International Violin-making Competition organised by the National Association of Artistic Italian Lutherie (ANLAI).

Kuantan native Chang Song Jie, 25, won the gold medal for her handcrafted viola, named ‘Laksa’ in the non-professional category.

She accepted the award at the prize-giving ceremony in a traditional Nyonya kebaya costume.

Sibu-born Samuel Wong Li Wei, 26, won silver in the same category for his piece, ‘Martha’.

Kuala Lumpur-based luthier Tan Ching Seng, early 40s, was awarded the silver and bronze medals for his viola ‘Harimau’ and cello ‘Gunung Kinabalu’ respectively in the professional category.

Tan is a former double-gold medalist at the 10th Sesto Fiorentino competition and is the mentor of Chang and Wong.

He shared that he was pleased by his pupils receiving international awards and felt that he had fulfilled his mission of passing down his craftsmanship.

Tan was previously under the tutelage of renowned violinmakers Han Zhao Sheng of Beijing and Bertrand Yves Delisle of Cremona.

(From left) Samuel Wong Li Wei, Chang Song Jie and Tan Ching Seng at the 17th International Violin making Competition organised by the National Association of Artistic Italian Lutherie. — Picture courtesy of Seventh Diciso

The competition is open to both professional and non-professional violinmakers in four instruments: violin, viola, cello and bow.

The Malaysians competed against luthiers from Italy, France, Germany, China and South Korea, among other countries.

Their creations were first judged on the quality of their craftsmanship by an international jury headed by Italian maestro Giorgio Scolari.

They were then tested by another jury of musicians for their acoustic qualities.

The award-winning instruments will be on display at the church of Santa Maria della Neve, Pisogne.