Spring City Violinist Takes Grand Prize at Italy Competition

While many of us stateside were enjoying last week’s 4th of July holiday with some dazzling fireworks displays, 12-year-old Mio Imai of Spring City was making fireworks of her own at the “Piccolo Violino Magico” international violin competition.

The conservatory Accademia d’archi Arrigoni organizes this annual event for violinists ages 9 through 13 in the violin-crazy town of San Vito al Tagliamento.

After arriving very late the night before due to airline cancellations, the talented but extremely jet-lagged Pennsylvania tween powered through the first round of 20 accepted competitors on the 4th of July with some Pergolesi (see it here: Mio Imai, Pergolesi / Concerto in B flat major - YouTube).

Mio’s First round rendition of Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso is here: https://youtu.be/VTtxjVtm6iY, and check the 1:19:04 point for the Second round here: https://www.youtube.com/live/wNa9RY8yQdM?feature=share.

By Friday the field was reduced in the semifinalist round to the final four. Sunday Mio blew away the field as well as the judging panel to win the Grand Prize, a €5.000 scholarship to Accademia d’archi Arrigoni and a violin made by Fabio Piagentini, and took the breath away from everyone in the hall with her performance of Wienawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, op. 22 and her self-selected encore, Kreisler’s Recitativo and Scherzo-Caprice.

See it all here – she’s first up around 24:30 in this Facebook Live video:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=1716667055461922

Mio told us that besides enjoying the beautiful town and supportive citizens (she stayed in a historic 200-year-old building!), she loved all the rehearsals with two symphony orchestras and “meeting other amazing violinists from around the world!”

The experience also renewed her respect for being adaptable.

“Flexibility is very important as a musician,” she reflected. “The surrounding environment was constantly changing and I had to adapt to these new circumstances. For example, this competition took place on hot summer days. The temperature was ~70 to ~93 F, with high humidity. There was no air conditioning in my hotel, practice room, and backstage. Both I and my instrument had to adjust to the new environment. In addition, the order of pieces was suddenly changed on stage during my 2nd round.”

Mio is glad she spent a week at the Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival in June to prepare for all the expected as well as unexpected challenges. PIMF’s faculty features principal players of The Philadelphia Orchestra, who provided focused feedback on her performances.

“PIMF gave me multiple performance opportunities and a surrounding environment where I could really focus on music,” Mio said. “I was able to study with world-famous musicians and get their advice, and my level of performance increased a lot. The staff members helped me by making a schedule in which I was able to train for the tight competition week schedule. All of this helped me deliver the best performance I could during the competition.”

Young musicians interested in working with principal players and other members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra may still find a summer music home at The Philadelphia International Music Camp and Festival. PIMF’s upcoming session July 15-28, 2023 has openings for all instruments in the Young Artists Orchestra (Ages 11-13) and Junior Orchestra (Ages 8 -10), with openings for select instruments in the Senior Orchestra Program (Ages 14 - 19).

Chat online for additional information at: pimf.org or phone: 856.875.6816. Interested musicians may also email Operations Director Jacob Heil for additional information: jacob.heil@pimf.org.