A teenage violinist from China has claimed one of the top prizes in classical music, the Menuhin Competition. He Ziyu follows a long list of winners who have gone onto become major concert performers and recording artists. The competition is named after Yehudi Menuhin, perhaps the greatest violinist of the 20th century. Special Contributor James Chau is in London where he sat down with the winners.

He Ziyu follows a long list of winners who have gone onto become major concert performers and recording artists.

Sixteen years old and already a star of the classical music world. He Ziyu won the Menuhin Competition on Saturday, after performing Dvorak's violin concerto. 

"I'm not here just for the award. I love playing for the audience. I love to bring my music to them to enjoy," he said.

Born in Qingdao, He is now a student at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He has been playing violin since the age of five and says he wants to become an internationally recognised musician.

Gordon Back, Artistic Director of the Menuhin Competition, says the opportunity is there. 

He was supremely confident in a very good way, in a very reassured way. He was totally prepared, he knew the score, he knew what to do with every phrase. He interacted with the orchestra, he made music, and he was enjoying himself."

Meanwhile, calls to host the Menuhin Competition in China, as occurred in 2012, are gaining momentum.

Sophie Lee is a Korean-American and won the Junior section. I asked her if she had told her friends she had won.

They think that playing the violin is an after-school activity, like playing soccer. But my really old friends know I am really into playing the violin.