We are delighted to announce the launch of the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition, an exciting and unprecedented musical endeavor taking place in Dubai from April 22nd to April 28th, 2025. This event offers violinists from around the world a unique opportunity to shine on the international stage.
Led by Artistic Director Pavel Vernikov, Classic Violin Olympus aims to revolutionize the world of music competitions. We are proud to offer a groundbreaking total prize fund of €310,000, with an astonishing First Prize of €200,000. Additionally, we have introduced a distinctive pre-selection format that has never been attempted before. This preliminary stage, taking place throughout 2024, is open to artists of all ages and nationalities. It will be conducted in six different countries worldwide, featuring six separate contests, each providing a pathway to the Grand Finale in the UAE.
These contests will be hosted in Tokyo, Vienna, New York, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, and each will be judged by a carefully selected five-member jury panel. Each event boasts a prize fund of €35,000. At each contest, the top two contestants will earn the privilege of participating in the invite-only final stage, ensuring a diverse and highly competitive participant pool of 12 talented violinists from the international community.
In Dubai, the selected violinists will take the stage in front of an exclusive 23-member jury board, comprised solely of conductors and directors of renowned orchestras, festivals, and concert series. During this stage, they will be required to perform a six-part program meticulously designed to comprehensively evaluate their skillset. Jurors will witness the musicians performing in various scenarios, starting with playing alongside a symphonic orchestra. Subsequently, they will be asked to assume the role of concertmaster and lead the orchestra themselves. Next, they will interpret Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano with Orchestra, collaborating with two globally-celebrated soloists and the full orchestra. Following this, they will perform a work by a contemporary composer, a solo encore, and participate in a Q&A session with the jury panel members.
Registrations for the pre-selection phase are currently open. Interested applicants can visit the website of their preferred country to submit their audition video for a chance to be one of the 20 contestants selected for each contest. Application deadlines for each event may vary, so act promptly to avoid disappointment!
For more information about the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition, please visit the official website at classicviolinolympus.com.