The Washington Post reports that eight young musicians competed for more than $30,000 in prizes on Sunday in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

Interestingly, each of the three first-prize winners (one each for violin, viola and cello) won by playing music from 20th-century masterworks. Daniela Shtereva’s reading of the first movement of Bartok’s Second Violin Concerto was shot through with fantasy and fire, while Yu Jin brought shapely phrasing and an array of dazzling colors to the first movement of Bartok’s Viola Concerto. David Requiro played most of Kabalevsky’s Second Cello Concerto, bringing out its wit and dynamism. Of the other finalists, a personal favorite was third-place winner Susie Park, who amplified the drama in her commanding reading of Ravel’s showpiece “Tzigane” by theatrically flourishing her bow in the pauses between the work’s Gypsy-flavored violin licks.

Well done to all the prize-winners.