Discover Music Tour: Concerts in Iserlohn & Cologne

From March 5th to March 9th EMCY brought together three exceptional young talents for the latest edition of the Discover Music Tour in Germany. True to the core mission of the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth, the tour provided these rising stars not only with a platform to showcase their remarkable artistry but also with critical professional development opportunities – highlighted by an exclusive studio recording session designed to elevate their career portfolios.

Meet the Artists

The tour featured a powerhouse lineup of prize-winning musicians representing a diverse cross-section of classical disciplines:

• Zhongjin Fang (Piano): Born in China and currently pursuing his master’s degree at the University of Music and Drama Hannover under Professor Ewa Kupiec, Zhongjin is an acclaimed virtuoso. His achievements include first prizes at the Schumann International Youth Piano Competition, the Merci Maestro competition in Belgium, and the EMCY Prize at the Fulda Music Festival.
• Zala Eva Kocijančič (Violin): A Slovenian violinist celebrated for her expressive sensitivity, Zala is no stranger to the EMCY network, having claimed top prizes at Ohrid Pearls and Young Virtuosi in Zagreb. Currently finishing her master’s degree in Ljubljana under Dan Zhu and Vasilij Meljnikov, she has already shared the stage as a soloist with major national orchestras.
• Daugardas A. Siudikas (Cello): Bringing incredible youthful energy from Lithuania, the 2009-born cellist studies at the prestigious National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art. A laureate in national string competitions, Daugardas recently added a second-place win at the International Chamber Music Competition “Spring Sonata” to his growing list of milestones.

First Step: Practicing Together

Before stepping onto the public stage, the tour began with intensive ensemble rehearsals. The trio spent the opening days practicing closely together, aligning their individual styles and building the musical chemistry needed to tackle a demanding chamber and solo repertoire. This preparation laid the foundation for the performances that followed.

Live Concerts in Iserlohn and Cologne

The absolute highlights of the tour were the public concerts. The trio presented a demanding, diverse program spanning centuries of music featuring works by Biber, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff.

• The Iserlohn Concert: Held at the local Musikschule, this morning performance gave the musicians a wonderful opportunity to connect with the local community, test out the hall’s acoustics, and fine-tune their live collaborative energy early in the day.
• The Cologne Concert: Hosted at the EFG Köln-Mülheim in cooperation with the Stiftung LebenMülheim, this evening performance brought the tour to a fantastic finish. The trio delivered an exceptional performance, earning ovations from the audience. As a special thank-you to the energetic crowd, the musicians performed a lively tango encore together.

Performing these back-to-back concerts required immense focus and adaptability. For the audiences, it was a first look at the future of European classical music; for Zhongjin, Zala, and Daugardas, it was real-world experience navigating the life of a touring musician.

Inside the Recording Studio

Beyond the stage lights, the tour integrated a practical professional element: an intensive studio recording session specifically for the string players.

Zala and Daugardas stepped into a professional recording studio. Recording requires an entirely different kind of focus than playing live on a stage – perfection, precision, and consistency are the key to success. By the end of the sessions, both musicians walked away not just with a great studio experience, but with top-tier audio recordings to use for future competition entries, masterclass applications, and concert bookings.