LI Student Semifinalist In Irving M. Klein String Competition

MANHASSET, NY — A Long Island student is one of nine semifinalists worldwide in the 2021 Irving M. Klein International String Competition.

Manhasset Secondary School student cellist Dylan Wu, who studies at The Juilliard School Pre-College Division, was selected from 128 entrants from 16 nationalities, Manhasset School District officials said.

Wu is one of five string musicians from the United States to be chosen to compete in the semi-finals this year. He is joined by New York City resident Serin Park, Keoni Bolding of Pennsylvania, Grace Huh of California, and William Tan of Illinois, according to the competition’s website.

The competition, which is produced by the California Music Center, helps the world’s “top young string musicians” gain prominence in the competitive world of classical music, according to a district news release.

The next round of the competition will be held between June 5 and 6, with an announcement of the results online on June 6. This round of the competition is typically held in front of a live audience at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, but this year it will be held virtually, allowing audiences worldwide to view all semifinalists as they compete for cash prizes and performance contracts, according to officials.

The grand prize’s estimated worth is $13,000, which includes cash and performances with the Penninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, and Gualala Arts Chamber, and others, officials said.