2024 Primrose International Viola Competition & American Viola Society Festival Program Book

2024 Primrose International Viola Competition Competitors

Karolina Errera Pavon grew up in a Dominican-Russian family with musical influences from all over the world. Making music was initially intended as a pastime after schoolwork, but it quickly developed into a passion that has become an integral part of her life. In 2018, Ms. Errera won first prize at the VIII Yuri Bashmet International Viola Competition, having previously been awarded second place at the 52nd International Instrumental Competition Markneukirchen and first prize at the International Jan Rakovsky Competition. In chamber music, she is fascinated by the sensitivity of the shared creative moment

and the fulfilling communication with one another. She is a former scholarship holder of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Karajan Academy. Since October 2018, she has been studying with Professor Tabea Zimmermann at the Kronberg Academy—her studies were funded by Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Stiftung—and she completed her Professional Studies degree in June 2023. Currently, Ms. Errera plays a copy of Gasparo da Salò viola made by Leipzig-based Luthier Jan Wünsch.

JungAhn Shin was born in Busan, South Korea. Her musical journey began at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts, where she honed her talent and ignited her love for music. At age 15, Ms. Shin relocated to Berlin, Germany, where she pursued her musical education under the mentorship of Tabea Zimmermann at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, starting as a pre-college student. She then continued her bachelor’s degree with Ms. Zimmermann and is now pursuing further studies at UDK Berlin with Hartmut Rohde, expanding her musical horizons. Ms. Shin’s performances have captivated

audiences at prestigious festivals such as Kronberg Academy’s Chamber Music Connects the World, IMS Prussia Cove, and Grachten Festival, collaborating with esteemed musicians such as Steven Isserlis, Nobuko Imai, Christian Tetzlaff, and Renaud Capuçon, among others. Now a regular substitute at the Berliner Philharmoniker, Ms. Shin draws inspiration from artists such as Ms. Zimmermann, Ms. Imai, Lars Anders Tomter, Yura Lee, among others.

Otoha Tabata made her solo debut in London at age 11 and has since been performing as a soloist across Europe and worldwide. At age 10, she entered the Yehudi Menuhin School, growing up both in Japan and the U.K. Her studies were supported by scholarship and the Music and Dance Scheme. Currently, Ms. Tabata studies privately with Nobuko Imai and Jonathan Barritt at the Royal College of Music London, where she receives a full scholarship as a Richard Goulding Scholar supported by the Richard & Susan Jarvis Award. She has been selected as a scholar of the Rohm Music Foundation Japan 2023.

Recent awards include third prize at the Windsor Festival International String Competition, Promotion Prize at the Anton Rubinstein Viola Competition, and an honorary mention at the Oskar Nedbal Viola Competition. Since 2023, Ms. Tabata has been an Akademist of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and scholarship holder of Villa Musica Chamber Music Academy. Ms. Otoha performs on a Charles Boullangier viola, kindly loaned by the Royal College of Music.

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