Greek clarinet player wins Eurovision Young Musician prize

10 May 2008 - 18H00

A Greek clarinet player, Dionysios Grammenos, beat six other finalists to win the Eurovision Young Musician prize Friday in Vienna at the end of a six-day competition.

The 18-year-old Grammenos, a student at the Athens conservatory, won the prize for his performance of the fourth movement of Jean Francaix's concerto for clarinet and orchestra.

The runners-up included Finnish pianist Roope Grondahl and Norwegian violinist Eldbjorg Hemsing.

The winners were picked Friday evening by an international jury led by British conductor Sir Roger Norrington, following performances by all seven finalists at the opening of the week-long Vienna Festival at City Hall.

Sixteen young musicians from around Europe and no older than 19 originally competed for the award.

This was the 14th edition of the competition, which was created in 1982 and is held every two years.