Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition

Stern's influence began with a historic trip in 1979 after the Chinese Cultural Revolution and just after China's long period of isolation from the rest of the world.

In an effort to ensure transparency, the competition took an unprecedented step in publishing the scores and comments of eliminated participants as well as winners.

The final round which included concertos played with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, was conducted by Michael Stern.

In keeping with Isaac Stern's values, all contestants were required to play a Chinese work, the iconic[6] Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto.

The other award was presented to Wu Taoxiang and Du Zhengquan, who founded a middle-school ensemble in China called the Einstein Orchestra.

The committee declared that the six finalists, Rino Yoshimoto of Japan; Thomas Lefort of France; Ruifeng Lin of China; Felicitas Schiffner of Germany; Angela Sin Ying Chan of Hong Kong, China; and Shannon Lee of the United States, would receive equal scholarship awards of $20,000.