The upcoming Classic Violin Olympus International Competition is gaining momentum as preparations for its inaugural edition progress smoothly. The organizing committee, led by Artistic Director Pavel Vernikov, is meticulously reviewing international applications for one of the six preselection contests scheduled throughout 2024.
After a rigorous vetting process, a maximum of 20 candidates will advance to the live contests. The Tokyo Classic Violin Competition, the foremost entry in this preliminary series, recently concluded its registration period, announcing the 20 successful applicants set to compete at the Geidai (Tokyo University of the Arts) from March 17-21, 2024.
The distinguished participants include:
- Andrey Baranov
- JungMin Choi
- Beatrice Colombis
- Bobirjon Eshpulatov
- Seira Horiuchi
- Yiying Jiang
- Mei Kaneko
- Eugene Kawai
- Haewon Lim
- Yu Wen Lu
- Shotaro Matsuki
- Zhiyuan Qian
- Xingzhou Rong
- Kaho Takemoto
- Rina Tanaka
- Yukiko Uno
- Soyoung Yoon
- Kaoruko Yoshida
- Meng Zou
- Haoya Zhang
These accomplished violinists will showcase their talents before a distinguished 5-person jury board, competing for a €35,000 prize fund. Additionally, the winner earns an exclusive entry to the invite-only Classic Violin Olympus in Dubai, UAE, from April 22-28, 2025, boasting €310,000 in monetary prizes and various accolades for finalists.
Expressing the challenge of shortlisting from the overwhelming number of applications, Mr. Vernikov acknowledged the exceptional proficiency displayed by all participants. He commended their dedication and passion for music, expressing gratitude for showcasing remarkable talent. The anticipation is now focused on witnessing these extraordinary artists in Tokyo this March.
Moreover, organizers unveiled the names of four reserve participants who may step in if any of the initial 20 are unable to compete in Tokyo:
- Xin Quan
- Zixuan Shen
- Roni Shitrit
- Aozhe Zhang
As attention turns to the Vienna Classic Violin Competition, the next batch of participants will be announced. Although the registration period has ended for the Tokyo event, applications for contests in New York, London, Rome, and Tel Aviv remain open. Those yet to submit audition recordings are urged to act promptly to avoid missing the deadline.
