The article reports that a 1938 viola made by Ivan W. Allison of Charleston, West Virginia, inscribed with the initials “IA,” was gifted from President Trump to Emperor Naruhito during his ascent to the Imperial Chrysanthemum Throne, and details its journey from Little Rock to Japan. Joe Joyner of the Little Rock Violin Shop describes the instrument’s diplomatic voyage and notes the viola was sold to the emperor’s violist.
A Vietnamese news article about a Hanoi event featuring rare violins and chamber music instruments for an International Violin and Chamber Music competition in August 2019. It mentions judges and the period of the event, with references to historic instruments by makers such as Nicolo Gagliano, Pietro Guarneri, Joseph Guarneri, Laurentius Storioni, and others.
Eric Charles Chen, an 18-year-old violinist from Princeton, New Jersey, won the 2019 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition with a performance of Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63, earning a $20,000 prize. Shihan Wang and Isabella Brown also placed second and third, respectively, and all three finalists earned full-tuition Oberlin Conservatory scholarships.
Ray Chen, a classical music superstar, is returning to Brisbane with a valued instrument. The report notes his ties to Armani, his own violin-case designs, and his background from Brisbane, including studies at Curtis Institute of Music. The article highlights his early life, education, and rise to global fame.