Kalamazoo Times

The Stulberg International String Competition marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration at Western Michigan University's Dalton Center Recital Hall on May 17. This event is recognized as a premier showcase for string musicians under the age of 20 and this year, it emphasized global collaboration and educational growth, drawing over 120,000 livestream views worldwide.

The competition awarded top honors to several young musicians. Laurentia Woo from New Jersey won the Gold Medal for violin, studying under Itzhak Perlman and Areta Zhulla in the Juilliard Pre-College program. Zekai Chen from China received the Silver Medal for violin, guided by Ming’en Zhou at the Music Middle School Affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The Bronze Medal went to Oliver Mar from New Zealand for cello, taught by Dr. Clara Minhye Kim at Juilliard Pre-College. Lauren Yoon from New Jersey was awarded the Julius & Esther Stulberg Memorial Prize for violin, mentored by Masao Kawasaki at Juilliard Pre-College.

Laurentia Woo will be mentored by renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine to prepare for the world premiere of "Legacy Concerto," composed by Lucas Richman—the first commissioned work in the competition's history.

Established in 1975 to honor Dr. Julius Stulberg, a former WMU violin professor and conductor, the competition has hosted nearly 2,500 young musicians over five decades. It is known for attracting world-class jurors such as Li-Wei Qin, an internationally acclaimed cellist who expressed admiration for this year's competitors: “This competition showcases the future of classical music, and I was deeply inspired by the young musicians’ bravery and exceptional performances.”

Daniel Guyette, dean of WMU's College of Fine Arts, opened the event’s livestream broadcast stating: “This milestone is deeply meaningful to us—not only because we’ve had the privilege of hosting the competition for many years but because it was founded in memory of Julius Stulberg.”

Michigan state representatives Julie M. Rogers and Sean McCann formally acknowledged the anniversary with a legislative tribute. Rogers remarked on Kalamazoo's reputation for showcasing talent: “Kalamazoo has become synonymous with excellence in showcasing young string player talent.” McCann added that representing such an artistic community is an honor.

The anniversary also featured a pre-show broadcast titled "Countdown to Stulberg," produced by Dr. Sophie Tang of WMU. It included interviews with judges and key figures like Lynn Chen-Zhang and Megan Yankee.

Yankee commented on this milestone: "As we celebrate 50 years, our legacy finds vibrant new expression in extraordinary talent."

Trustee Chen-Zhang sponsored a Cello Judge Chair and selected a rare David Tecchler cello used during the weekend events. She noted: “Music education is more than preservation; it’s a powerful bridge for connection.”

Charles Zhang added that supporting these musicians requires passion beyond funding: “Supporting young musicians at the highest level takes more than funding; it demands passion.”

A documentary capturing these efforts will be released later this year.

For more information about WMU news and events visit their website.