Unisa online - Fierce competition for top honours and R200 000,00

The six finalists in the 5th Unisa International String Competition 2010 are competing over two evenings for the coveted first prize in the violin and cello categories, with the winner in each category receiving R200 000,00.

The selection of violin and cello works, performed with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Conrad van Alphen, includes some of the world’s best loved concertos for these strings:

Thursday evening
Anton Pavlovsky (22) (cello) – A Dvořák Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
Yura Lee (24) (violin) – PI Tchaikovsky Concerto in D major, Op. 35
Georgi Anichenko (24) (cello) – A Dvořák Concerto in B minor, Op. 104

Friday evening
Hrachya Avanesyan (23) (violin) – F Mendelssohn Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Alexander Ramm (21) (cello) – A Dvořák Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
Andrey Baranov (24) (violin) – PI Tchaikovsky Concerto in D major, Op. 35

The diminutive Yura Lee, who is the only female finalist, rehearsing with the JPO earlier this week

Hrachya Avanesyan deep in concentration during a rehearsal earlier this week

Avigail Bushakevitz, South Africa's only semi-finalist, after her crowd-wowing performance in the semi-finals on Monday night