05/18/2025
’CELLIST FROM LOS ANGELES
TAKES $8,000 TOP PRIZE
Edmonton, AB – On Saturday, May 17, 2025 — after two days of amazing and very high calibre competition — violoncellist Mira Kardan (18-years-old), from Los Angeles, CA was awarded the $8,000 top prize in The Shean Strings Competition. She has also won the opportunity to play with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at a future date. Ms. Kardan was one of 6 Finalists chosen from the 18 submitted entries to compete in The 2025 Shean Strings Competition on May 16 and 17 in Edmonton, AB.
The complete results of The Shean Strings Competition are as follows:
• First Place and $8,000, plus the opportunity to play with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra – Mira Kardan, violoncello (Los Angeles, CA)
• Second Place and $5,000 – Justin Saulnier, violin (Ottawa, ON)
• Third Place and $4,000 – Grace Lau, violin (Toronto, ON)
• Fourth Place and $3,000 – Elliot Sloss, violoncello (Toronto, ON)
• Fifth Place and $2,000– Gordon Giang, violoncello (Edmonton, AB)
Ms. Tessa Nysetvold, violoncello (Calgary, AB) withdrew from Competition before it began.
Justin Saulnier also won the $1,000 Paul J. Bourret Memorial Award for Best Performance of the Test Piece – Caprice, op. 1, no. 5 by Niccolò Paganini.
The adjudicators for this year’s Competition were: David Hoyt, Chair; Steven Dann, viola; and Gil Sharon, violin.
The 2026 Shean Piano Competition takes place virtually on May 15 and 16 with an $8,000 Top Prize and the opportunity to perform with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The $1,000 Paul J. Bourret Memorial Award for Best Performance of the Test Piece will also be awarded. Results and videos will be posted on our website after the Competition.
