Guest conductor Peter Bay (right) applauded the winners of the Dallas Chamber Symphony’s 2025 Dallas International Violin Competition during the award ceremony on June 17, 2025, at Moody Performance Hall. The winners are, from left: Hiu Sing Fan (second prize and audience choice award), Laurel Gagnon (first prize), and Alice Lee (third prize). (Mitch Lazorko / Dallas Chamber Symphony)
Just over a week after the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition announced its winners in Fort Worth, the Dallas International Violin Competition revealed its three finalists and their awards at Moody Performance Hall on Tuesday night.
The top prize of $2,500 was awarded to American violinist Laurel Gagnon, who is currently studying at Yale University School of Music. Along with the cash prize, Gagnon earned a future solo engagement with the Dallas Chamber Symphony, the organization behind the competition.
The $1,500 second prize and the $500 audience choice award went to Hiu Sing Fan, a native of Hong Kong who is pursuing a doctor of musical arts degree at Northwestern University.
The third prize of $1,000 was presented to Alice Lee, a Canadian violinist studying at the New England Conservatory.
During the concert, each finalist performed a violin concerto accompanied by the Chamber Symphony, under the direction of guest conductor Peter Bay, music director of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Gagnon played the Brahms violin concerto, while Fan and Lee performed the Sibelius concerto.
Pianist Christopher Goodpasture added dynamic flair with performances of works by Liszt and Turina.
The biennial competition, open to violinists aged 18 to 35, selected 16 participants from video submissions to compete in person. The initial rounds took place June 12 and 13 at the Murchison Performing Arts Center at the University of North Texas in Denton.
Quarterfinalists performed violin concertos with piano accompaniment, followed by semifinalists who played unaccompanied solo violin recitals. A jury of three professional violinists and teachers chose which contestants advanced in each round.
Though the Dallas International Violin Competition is relatively new and less high-profile, it attracted players demonstrating significant technical skill and interpretive depth, as evidenced by the three finalists’ performances on Tuesday.
At times, all three finalists used forceful bowing and strong double-stops that felt a bit overpowering for the 700-seat Moody Hall, which is roughly one-third the size of most major orchestra venues. This effect was particularly noticeable in Gagnon’s Brahms performance, where a more restrained approach is often preferable. Additionally, Gagnon’s choice of an elaborate Fritz Kreisler cadenza added intensity that some might find excessive.
Nevertheless, Gagnon showed herself to be an accomplished and expressive musician. With conductor Bay and principal oboist Elise Belk introducing the slow movement eloquently, Gagnon responded with sensitive timing and phrasing. The finale was somewhat measured, aligning with Brahms’ marking of “happy allegro, but not too lively.”
Both Fan and Lee handled the demanding technical aspects of Sibelius’ concerto—its rapid passages, double-stops, and leaps to high pianissimos—with confidence, though they offered contrasting interpretations. Lee delivered a passionate, earthy, and ethereal version, exercising considerable freedom in the cadenza. Fan’s approach was more traditionally cool and focused, reflecting the Nordic character often associated with the piece.
With a larger wind and brass section typical of a 2,000-seat hall but fewer strings, Bay skillfully maintained balance in the orchestra. Though occasional moments saw flutes, clarinets, or horns slightly overpower the soloists, Bay and the musicians kept a strong equilibrium and remained highly responsive to the solo performances.
One improvement for future concerts might be asking the audience to withhold applause between movements, as applause was frequent during Tuesday’s event. Additionally, latecomers entering during the slow movement of Lee’s Sibelius performance caused some disruption.
Overall, the competition showcased emerging violin talent with both technical mastery and artistic nuance, highlighting Dallas’ growing presence in the classical music scene.
