The two young violinists back stage just after the announcement that they had both won the 2016 Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition were delighted but also somewhat confused. The jury had come to a most unusual verdict: a joint First Prize to Liya Petrova from Bulgaria and Ji Yoon Lee from South Korea.

“It’s most unexpected. I can’t say anything right now. I need to digest the news first”, was twenty-three-year-old Ji Yoon Lee’s initial reaction.

Yes, the shared first place came as a surprise, but the two winners were quick to agree that it was a good result.

“I think it’s a good compromise. If I’d been on the jury and unable to make up my mind, I’d also have preferred this compromise”, twenty-five-year-old Liya Petrova told us, with Ji Yoon Lee nodding in agreement.

They are really happy to have won but it’s too early to tell how much it will mean to their careers, Liya Petrova says.

“I don’t know what the prize will mean to me in the future, but it’ll definitely be positive”, says the happy winner.

No second prize was awarded at this year’s Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition.