LAURA KUKKONEN, AN 18-YEAR-OLD musical talent and Helsinki native, took to the stage at the Hollywood Bowl last night to take first place at a global violin championship. The 'Play with Ray' competition gave three talented finalists the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to play on stage alongside world-renowned violin master Ray Chen.
Kukkonen, a student at the Sibelius Academy, beat out a 13-year-old Texan and a 22-year-old Korean player to take the top title.
Of her win, she said that ”There are not enough words to describe how thankful I am for this experience. Getting a masterclass from Ray, playing on Guadagninis, doing extra activities, making new friends and, finally, performing with the outstanding professionals at the Hollywood Bowl - all of these are a dream come true and even more. This opportunity shows rare kindness and generosity which we often lack these days."
You can see more of action from last night by scrolling down.
Adam Oliver Smith - HT
Image Credit: Mathew Imaging
