Flautist Wins Graduation Concerto Competition

Media release
8 May 2009

Flautist Wins Graduation Concerto Competition

School of Music flautist Christine Kim took the top prize at last night’s University of Auckland Graduation Gala Concerto Competition.

Christine, a south-Korean-born masters student at the School, performed a stunning rendition of Ibert’s Concerto pour flute et orchestre, which MC Sarah Watkins described as a beautiful but “terrifying” piece of music.

Backed by The University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Christine played under the guidance of acclaimed musician and conductor Associate Professor Uwe Grodd. Chinese-born pianist Tiantian Xu took second prize for her interpretation of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 2 in A major; and south-Korean-born Joong-Han Jung placed third with his performance of Beethoven™s Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, 1st movement.

The competition, which was carried out before an enthusiastic full-house, was judged by School of Music staff members Karen Grylls, Martin Rummel and Robert Constable, who is Head of School. Noting that there was “not even a hair’s breadth between the calibre of the soloists”, Professor Constable said each player “opened up” the music and œworked skilfully with, not against the orchestra.

For 22-year-old Christine, who spent several months rehearsing intensively for the performance, last night was a chance to have fun and communicate her love of the music to the audience.

“When I was backstage I thought ‘Ok, this is it- there’s no turning back now.’ After rehearsing for so long it reaches the point where you just want to play. The support we got from the crowd, the orchestra, the conductor was so positive. I was up against two great pianists who played very big pieces. But I prepared hard for it anῤ I had a lot of fun, says Chriῳtine, who plans to sh`ut her family lunch anῤ then save the rest of her $3000 winnings for overseas study.

The much-anticipated Graduation Gala Concerto Competition has become an essential date on Auckland’s music calendar. The evening marks the culmination of the University’s Graduation Week and celebrates its new graduates. By the end of this week, around 6000 graduands will have received degrees.

“The response to our previous concerto competitions has been outstanding and last night was no exception," says Professor Robert Constable, Head of the School of Music. “The Graduation Gala concert is a wonderful way to bring the University and the community together in a spirit of celebration.”

The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.

Artist biographies

Christine Kim - flute (1st place)
Christine Kim (North Shore resident) is currently studying for a Master of Music (MMus) with Associate Professor Uwe Grodd. Christine began playing the flute at the age of 11, when she was living in the USA. She was a (very young) winner of The 74th Annual Society of American Musicians Competition in 1999. Since her move to New Zealand in 2001, she has been actively involved in many musical groups and achieved excellent results in various competitions. In 2006, Christine was the runner-up, as well as ˜best woodwind™ at the Rotorua National Unison Concerto Competition. Her 2007 successes included 3rd place in The University of Auckland Concerto Competition. In 2008 she was the recipient of the Anne Bellam Scholarship and was invited to play in the prestigious Sir James Galway master class held in Switzerland in August.

Tiantian Xu - piano (2nd place)
Tiantian Xu (North Shore resident) is studying for a Bachelor of Music (Honours) under the tutelage of Gian-Fransco Ricci. Tiantian has been playing the piano since the age of five. Her outstanding performance skills gained her first prize in the China National Piano Duo Competition in 1997, and she also won the Hong Kong Piano Competition in 2001. Tiantian moved to New Zealand in 2004, and in that year won both the Schubert Scholarship and Margerate Doone Piano Sonata Scholarship in the Institute of Registered Music Teachers (IRMT) Scholarship Competition. Tiantian has performed in the USA, Australia, Czech Republic, Germany and Spain. In addition, she gained Honorary Citizenship of the state of Oklahoma, USA, where she was invited to join the œRed River Arts Academy at Oklahoma State University.

Joong-Han Jung - piano (3rd place)
Born in South Korea, 23 year-old Joong-Han Jung (west Auckland resident)has been playing the piano since he was 11 years old. Since coming to New Zealand he has won prizes in the Rotorua Recital Awards, the Kapiti Coast National Piano Competition and the Kerikeri National Piano Competition. Most recently his performance of Beethoven™s Piano Concerto No.4 gained him second place in the Christchurch National Piano Concerto Competition, as well as the audience prize for the best performance. Joong-Han gained first class honours in his Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree, which he studied under Rae de Lisle and Read Gainsford. He is currently completing his Master of Music degree with Gian-Franco Ricci, after which he plans further studies in the USA.

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