International Competition Reviews from Teachers and Performers
These testimonials discuss international accessibility, artistic growth, contemporary repertoire, recognition and the value teachers and musicians found in participating in CIMC.
I would like to thank you for giving me this honor. I am so happy that me and my students have been apart of this competition. I’m looking forward to encourage my students to participate more in this competition. It’s such a wonderful experience.
I am so grateful for Charleston’s opportunity to partake in an international competition. So many high level events include barriers of traveling but Charleston makes this accessible to all. Winning 1st prize was a great surprise and the recognition from this esteemed organization really encouraged me in my playing. I am honored by this award!
At first when I saw the competition on instagram, I ignored it. I thought it would not matter too much, and because I didn’t believe too much in myself. But I gave it a chance, and i signed up. After I submitted everything, I just waited a while until I somewhat forgot about it. That was until I received a letter saying I made it into the finals. Then something inside me changed, knowing I had a chance of being recognized as a musician. I became motivated. Then i saw that I got third prize winner. And I realized how much my life will change from here. I don’t care about the trophy, or the prizes. All i care about is to spread the love that classical music carries. To inspire people to listen to classical music more, or even become motivated to start playing an instrument. I will continue to spread this joy for music with people of all ages. And great job to everyone who participated! It makes me super happy knowing there are people from all ages playing so beautifully. Congratulations to everyone!
Prof. Jenny S. Kim
As a professor at Claremont Graduate University, I have had the privilege of guiding many talented students through their musical journeys. Dorothy Robbins’ participation in the 2024 Charleston International Music Competition was an incredible opportunity for her to showcase her dedication and artistic growth. The competition provided a challenging yet rewarding platform that helped Dorothy refine her skills, and her Second Prize award is a testament to her hard work, creativity, and perseverance.
Competitions like the Charleston International Music Competition play a significant role in the development of young musicians, offering them a stage to share their unique voices while receiving invaluable feedback. Dorothy’s experience in this competition has undoubtedly contributed to her musical development, and I am grateful for the opportunity this event has provided her and many other students.
I’m grateful I had the opportunity to compete in this competition, and I’m very happy I can say that I’m a Second Prize winner. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to compete!
It was an absolute pleasure to participate in the competition. I was very pleased to learn CIMC has a contemporary category. As a pianist who is very passionate about performing contemporary piano repertoire, it was a remarkable experience to participate in the category and be able to share what I’m most interested in.
Being this is my first time participating in this competition I am ecstatic to be able to be in the top three finalists. It was a pleasure to be able to join and show what I have learned in the past two years. The competition was strong and there were many talented musicians. Most of all I’m happy to be a part of it and earn more experience in this new area of my musical career. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, and most of all I want to thank my music teacher for teaching me so much in these last couple of years, and also my parents who helped me get where I am today. Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity.
Thanks for organizing this event and it’s a great experience for Lincoln to participate in the competition.
Our Bona Fide Duo is very grateful for the opportunity that Charleston International Music Competition has given us. Getting a second prize is a great honor even more so when we have shared this moment with others great musicians around the world. It is one more award that encourages us to continue making beautiful music for the world. Thank you once again for this opportunity.
I am honored to have received first place in Guzheng for the 2024 Charleston International Contemporary Music Competition. I’ve been playing this instrument since first grade and it has brought me a lot of joy. I’m so grateful to my teacher for guiding me throughout these years, and I’m glad my hard work and dedication have paid off. With this award, I hope to spread awareness of the timeless beauty of Chinese Music and enrich cultural experiences with guzheng. It is a pleasure to be able to be recognized for this achievement amongst other accomplished and talented musicians. Thank you Charleston International Music Competition for giving me this opportunity to shine light on my passion, I’m immensely grateful for this recognition.