VC Young Artist Kevin Zhu Awarded Use of 1722 'Ex-Lord Wandsworth' Stradivarius

VC Young Artist Kevin Zhu has been granted the long-term use of the 1722 'Ex-Lord Wandsworth' Stradivarius violin

It has been announced today that 18-year-old American VC Young Artist, violinist Kevin Zhu has been granted the long-term use of the 1722 Ex-Lord Wandsworth Stradivarius violin - on generous loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and the Rare Violins In Consortium.

The violin was previously owned by violin maker and dealer Georges Chanot, Lord Sydney Stern Wandsworth, W.E. Hill & Sons, former Boston Symphony Concertmaster Karel Ondricek - and engineer and philanthropist Edwin L. Wiegand.

A full scholarship student of Li Lin and Itzhak Perlman at The Juilliard School, Kevin was recently awarded 1st prize at the 2018 55th Paganini International Violin Competition - in Genoa, Italy.

VC YOUNG ARTIST KEVIN ZHU | PAGANINI VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN D MAJOR | MICHAEL ZLABINGER & ORCHESTRA DEL TEATRO CARLO FELICE | 2018 PAGANINI INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION | 1ST PRIZE | 17-YEARS-OLD

"Put simply, it's a dream come true ... I've always dreamt of having the opportunity to perform on a Stradivarius violin and I feel extremely lucky to have been granted this chance  ..." Kevin has told The Violin Channel.

"I can't thank Ryuji Ueno Foundation and the Rare Violins In Consortium enough ... their passion for music and support of young artists is unmatched," he has said.

Founded by Bruno Price and Ziv Arazi from Rare Violins of New York, In Consortium was started in October of last year to provide the infrastructure to allow benefactors, investors and fine instrument owners effortless and safe collaboration with young concert artists.

“In Consortium was started as a way to get more great instruments into the hands of more great players …” Company Chairman, Bruno Price has told The Violin Channel.

“We’ve seen in the past young players absolutely blossoming when given the opportunity to have a truly great instrument in their hands for a number of years … but sadly those opportunities have become fewer and fewer, so we had to find a way to do this,” he has said.

“There are people who own fine instruments who have been nervous about loaning them out … but we are here to make sure the instruments are diligently matched with responsible and deserving talent and are properly cared for, insured and maintained … In Consortium is essentially the buffer and conduit to make this happen with surety …” Chief Executive Officer, Ziv Arazi has said.

“In addition on a business level, by loaning their fine instruments to musicians, benefactors are also provided with a number of ways to reduce their cost of ownership and increase the long-term realization of their investment,” he has said.

Previous recipients from the Rare Violins InConsortium include 18-year-old VC Young Artist Nathan Meltzer - who currently performs on the 1734 Ames/Totenberg Stradivarius.