2024 Radda Rise International String Competition
Paula Wilkes
Honorable Mention
•Category 3
Paula Wilkes is a highly accomplished young violinist from Brüggen, Germany, recognized for her exceptional talent and dedication to the art of music. Born in 2007, Paula began her violin studies at the age of six under the guidance of Michalina Knull-Mausen at the Musikschule Mönchengladbach. Since 2024 she continued her education as a student of Solenne Paidassi at the Robert-Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf.
Paula has distinguished herself in numerous prestigious competitions. She has consistently excelled in the "Jugend musiziert" competitions, securing multiple first prizes in categories ranging from violin solo to ensemble performances, including top honors in the national rounds. Her success extends to international arenas, where she won first prizes and she was nominated for the Sponsorship Award at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in 2023, with renowned violinist Daniel Hope serving on the jury.
Her orchestral experience is equally impressive, having served as concertmaster in various youth orchestras since 2013, including the Children's Orchestra NRW and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Musikschule Mönchengladbach. She currently plays with the State Youth Orchestra NRW and the National Youth Orchestra of the German Music Council. In 2024, Paula was selected to perform with the Federal Youth Orchestra under the direction of Alexander Shelley and Tan Dun, with concerts at some of Europe’s most prestigious venues, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Memorial Church in Berlin, and the Cathedral of Brixen.
A particularly memorable moment in Paula’s career came when she performed Max Bruch's Violin Concerto as a soloist with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Musikschule Mönchengladbach. Her performance was described as "simply breathtaking." The reviewer highlighted her mastery of the technical challenges of the piece, noting that "the 16-year-old handled them with apparent ease." Paula's "deeply emotional, intimate tone moved the audience, bringing some to tears during the second movement," while her dynamic energy in the final Allegro energico was praised for how she "skillfully handled the prominent head motif, letting the bow bounce intensely over the strings." (Source: Rheinische Post, June 2024)
Paula's performances have been further refined through masterclasses with prominent musicians. A highlight of her training was a public masterclass with the world-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn at the Konzerthaus Dortmund in November 2023. Paula also worked with Emile Cantor at the MusicAlp in Tignes, France, Wonji Kim-Ozim at the Austrian Masterclasses and with Skerdjano Keraj in Italy. In addition to these experiences, Paula has participated in masterclasses with other esteemed instructors, including Yamei Yu, Solenne Paidassi, Jan Romanowski and Nina Reddig.
Paula’s talent has been recognized through various scholarships, including support from the German Foundation for Musical Life, which has provided her with a historic violin crafted by Joseph Klotz in 1781. In 2023, Paula earned a scholarship from the Cologne University of Music and Dance for a masterclass at the European Academy Palazzo Ricci and received a Special Prize from the German Foundation for Musical Life for her outstanding performance in the String Ensemble category.
Her passion is for symphonic work and chamber music and the great feeling when the individual voices create a magnificent whole. Outside of music, one of Paula’s favorite activities has been horseback riding since she was 5 years old.