Music | Jingjing Xu won the Mirjam Helin singing competition – praises the Helsinki City Orchestra and the level of the competition

Chinese mezzo-soprano Jingjing Xu has won the international Mirjam Helin singing competition, the final of which took place in the Musiikkitalo concert hall on Wednesday.

Xu was also chosen as the favorite of the student council.

This is the singer’s first international competition.

“When I heard the first singer here in Helsinki, I was ready to return to my current home country of Canada and tell my teacher that I still have a lot to learn,” says Xu after the results were announced.

Xu adds that he has never sung with an orchestra before. After the final pieces performed with the Helsinki City Orchestra, he stated that he received such support from the orchestra that he was able to show his full musical self.

In the final, he performed Noble seigneurs, salute! – aria Meyerbeer from the opera Les Huguenots mixed That Romeo t’uccise un figlio – aria Bellini’s from the opera I Capulet not Montecchi.

Last years Xu has studied in Canada. He recently completed his master’s degree at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal. In 2022, he will debut at the age of 22 Handel’s of Orlando in title role with Opera McGill.

Born in 1999, Xu found out about the competition through social media. He says that he enjoyed the competition immensely and already knows what he will do with the prize money.

“First, I’m going to China to see my parents, whom I haven’t seen in three years. After that, I would like to participate in a few auditions held in Europe. I’ve never sung opera before, and I’d like to learn it next.”

Race to another German soprano took first place Kathrin Lorenzen, which was also awarded as the viewers’ favorite. A South Korean tenor came third Junho Hwang. In addition, they competed in the final Justyna Khil From Poland, baritone Axel Daveyan from Armenia and soprano Josipa Bilić from Croatia.

President of the jury, soprano Soile Isokoski stated at the award ceremony that the jury was faced with an almost impossible challenge when choosing the winner.

In addition to Isokoski, the judges are a bass-baritone Luca Pisaronia pianist Keval Shahbaritone Bo Skovhupmezzo-soprano Randi Stene and soprano Dawn Upshaw.

The winner will receive 50,000 euros, the second 40,000 euros, the third 30,000 euros and the remaining three finalists 10,000 euros each.

The Finnish Cultural Fund has organized the Mirjam Helin singing competition every fifth year since 1984. Starting in 2024, the competition will be held every three years.