Moldova's Ilian Garnet wins Grand Prix at prestigious violin competition

Famed Moldovan violinist Ilian Garnet has brought home what Chisinau's culture department head Lucia Culev called Moldova's greatest victory – the Grand Prix of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, taking place each year in Switzerland, Info-Prim Neo reports. Speaking at a City Hall meting on Monday, Culev praised Garnet for the tremendous success of finishing the first from among 86 worthy violinists in a competition which meant a memorable debut for Moldova. According to her, in 42 editions of the competition, the Grand Prix was awarded only 21 times. Culev also spoke of the prestigious trophies won by Moldovan artists throughout Europe and on other continents, mentioning the first place and the grand prize won in Bulgaria at an international festival among art schools, and the title of Europe's best accordion band won at a festival held in Prague. The Tibor Varga International Violin Competition was created in 1967. From its inception, the Tibor Varga International violin Competition has been considered one of the most important contests of the genre, and enjoys world-wide renown.