Poland’s Jakub Staszel came second, and Jelin Lee of South Korea was third.
Jury chairman Łukasz Błaszczyk described Helling as “a complete musician, who impressed all jury members not only with an immaculate technique but also a mature personality."
He added: “It was fascinating to listen to various interpretations of works by the competition’s patron Grażyna Bacewicz. I hope her music will remain in the repertoire of these young violinists.”
In addition to PLN 25,000 (EUR 5,775, USD 6,215) in prize money, Helling received an invitation to appear as a soloist with the Łódź Philharmonic Orchestra.
Grażyna Bacewicz. Photo: NAC/Public domain
Bacewicz was a leading 20th-century Polish composer.
Born in 1909 in Łódź into a Polish-Lithuanian family, Bacewicz started to study music in her hometown at the age of 10. She continued her education in Warsaw and Paris, studying both violin and composition.
In 1935, she received an honourable mention at the 1st Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poland and subsequently pursued an intensive concert career in Poland and abroad.
After World War II, Bacewicz continued her solo career, but in the mid-1950s she put away her violin to devote more time to composing.
Her output includes seven violin concertos, two cello concertos, one viola concerto, seven string quartets, four symphonies, one opera, a ballet, five sonatas for violin and piano, two sonatas for solo violin and numerous other chamber pieces.
January 17 will mark the 55th anniversary of Bacewicz’s death.
(mk/gs)