EMCY

Menuhin Competition

All competitions
Date TBA
Richmond, VA, USA
Violin

The Menuhin Competition Trust is a UK registered charity. Since 1983 it has consistently attracted some of the greatest violin talents from all over the world and brought them together in an exceptional atmosphere of learning and exchange. Dubbed ‘the Olympics of the Violin’, the Menuhin Competition is the world’s leading competition for young musicians under the age of 22. Many of its prizewinners have gone on to successful international careers.

Yehudi Menuhin’s key to success was his excellent music education as a child and his ongoing dialogue and collaboration with fellow musicians. To enable young violinists from all over the world to have an equally enriching and stimulating environment, he founded the Yehudi Menuhin School in England in 1963, the Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad/Switzerland in 1977 and the Menuhin Competition in Folkestone/Britain in 1983.

The Menuhin Competition is traditionally invited by a host city or a host organisation and has been held in London/England, Cardiff/Wales, Oslo/Norway, Beijing/China and Austin/Texas (in 2014). It returned to the UK in 2016, taking place in London from 7-17 April 2016 to celebrate the centenary of Yehudi Menuhin’s birth, and will be held in Geneva/Switzerland from 12-22 April 2018.

Information

Organiser

Menuhin Competition UK

Structure

The age range up to 22 years old (divided then in 2 age categories).
Pre-selection by video recording followed by three rounds.

Cycle

Every two years

Next competition

TBA 2024

Next deadline

TBA 2023

competition

Application

Applications can be made online and entrants need to fill in questions in English, upload high-quality video recordings of the application repertoire, a set of documents including letters in English and proof of payment of a non-refundable application fee of £100 GBP.

Payments are accepted online by credit card via Paypal and payment must be received by the deadline so please ensure that international payments are made in good time. Late payment of the fee will make the application void. Payments must be made in £ GBP. If the entrant is under the age of 18, the entrant and a parent or guardian will need to sign digitally within the application portal.

Entrants will need to submit the online application videos and materials via Embark. The link to the online application is: https://menuhin.embark.com/apply/2020. The deadline is 12:00 midday GMT on Thursday 31 October 2019. All documents must be received by this date and late applications will not be accepted. Entrants will be advised of their acceptance or otherwise by the end of November 2019.

Documents Required

  • A copy of the entrant’s passport photo page
  • A biography of max. 150 words (in English) with details of education, musical training and concert experience to date
  • A 100 word biography (in English) that can be used by the Competition should the entrant be selected
  • One letter of recommendation (in English) from the entrant’s teacher, including certifying the video recording as recent work of the entrant ^
  • One letter of recommendation (in English) from a prominent musician ^ Please be aware that by submitting a letter of recommendation your teacher consents to being contacted by the Menuhin Competition in the future, and if they do not wish this to happen they must let us know.

Rules

The Competition is open to violinists of any nationality under the age of 22. Junior participants must be under 16 years of age and Senior participants under 22 years of age on 24 May 2020. Violinists aged 15 on 14 May 2020 may also enter the Senior Section.

The Jury will be composed of a Chair and a minimum of six distinguished international musicians. All decisions of the Jury will be final. The Jury reserves the right to withhold any prize should the required standard not be achieved. Once a participant has won 1st Prize, he or she will not be eligible to enter the same section again. Experienced piano accompanists will be available to all participants with one rehearsal for the first round and one rehearsal for the semi-final of the Competition, and as the Competition progresses accompanists may change. Participants may bring piano accompanists at their own expense but must perform with the official Competition musicians where indicated in the repertoire programme. Should you choose to bring your own piano accompanist with you at your own expense, they will need to agree to their performances during the Competition being live streamed, recorded, filmed or broadcast (as per the below). All music must be played from memory and without repeats unless otherwise indicated.

The timings of each participant’s performance slot per round are indicated within the repertoire and must be adhered to. Prizewinners must agree to perform without a fee at the Gala Concert on 24 May 2020. All participants must agree to perform without a fee at other events during the Competition. The Competition reserves the right to photograph, record, film, web-stream and/or broadcast any part of the Competition events and participants must grant the Competition the sole and exclusive right to use of these in perpetuity. The Competition also reserves the right to share information about applicants and participants with selected partner organisations.

Repertoire

Repertoire Programme – Junior Section
Under 16 years old (15 year olds may enter the Senior Section)

FIRST ROUND

  1. One of the following (without repeats):

G.F. Telemann Fantasia for Solo Violin, No. 8 in E Major, TWV 40:21
G.F. Telemann Fantasia for Solo Violin, No. 9 in B minor, TWV 40:22
G.F. Telemann Fantasia for Solo Violin, No. 10 in D Major, TWV 40:23

  1. One of the following:

P. Rode Caprice No. 1 in C Major from 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 22
P. Rode Caprice No. 4 in E minor from 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 22
P. Rode Caprice No. 6 in B minor from 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 22
P. Rode Caprice No. 9 in E Major from 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 22

  1. Freestyle improvisation:

The candidate will be given a 4-8 bar phrase and will perform a 2-3 minute free stylistic improvisation on the phrase.

  1. One of the following (without repeats):

W.A. Mozart Violin Sonata in G Major, K. 301 ^
W.A. Mozart Violin Sonata in E minor, K. 304 ^
R. Schubert Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, Op. 137, D. 384 ^

  1. One piece composed or arranged by F. Kreisler with piano accompaniment (max. duration 4 minutes)

SEMI-FINALS

  1. One of the following (1st movement only, without repeats):

L. van Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 ^
L. van Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 12 ^
L. van Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23 ^
L. van Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 ^

  1. One of the following:

A. Dvořák Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74
Introduzione: Allegro ma non troppo & Larghetto ^ ˣ
OR
Scherzo: Vivace & Thema con variazioni ^ ˣ

  1. Own choice of a work for solo violin written in the last 30 years, either by a US composer or a composer from the candidate’s own country (max. duration 4 mins) ^ +
  2. One virtuoso work of the candidate’s own choice with or without piano (max. duration 10 minutes)

FINALS

  1. A new commission for violin and string orchestra written by Mason Bates (c. 6 minutes, available January 2020) ^
  2. ONE of the Vivaldi Four Seasons with the Sphinx Virtuosi (without conductor)

For the first round and semi-final each candidate’s performance slot is 30 minutes. These performance slots must include coming on and off stage, tuning at the start and between pieces, all of the selected repertoire and deserved applause. Please do bear these timings in mind when selecting your repertoire.

 

Repertoire Programme – Senior Section
16 to 21 years old (15 year olds may enter the Senior Section)

FIRST ROUND

  1. One of the following (without repeats):

J.S. Bach Solo Sonata in G minor BWV 1001, Siciliana and Presto
J.S. Bach Solo Sonata in A minor BWV 1003, Andante and Allegro
J.S. Bach Solo Sonata in C Major BWV 1005, Largo and Allegro Assai

  1. N. Paganini One Caprice of the 24 Caprices for solo violin, Op. 1 (without repeats, max. duration 5 minutes)
  2. One of the following Sonatas for violin and piano (slow movement only):

C. Franck Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV. 8, 3rd movement ^
F. Poulenc Violin Sonata FP. 119, 2nd movement ^
M. Ravel Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, 2nd movement ^

  1. Own choice of a work for solo violin written in the last 30 years, either by a US composer or a composer from the candidate’s own country (max. duration 5 mins) ^ +

SEMI-FINALS

  1. One of the following (1st movement only, with a NEW cadenza composed by the candidate):

W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1 in B flat Major, K. 207
W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 211
W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216
W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218
W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219

  1. One of the following: A. Piazzolla “Histoire du Tango” with guitar Café 1930 ^ ˣ OR Nightclub 1960 ^ ˣ
  2. A new commission for solo violin written by Mark O’Connor (c. 5 minutes, available January 2020) ^
  3. One virtuoso work of the candidate’s own choice with or without piano (max. duration 10 minutes)

FINALS

  1. One complete concerto to be performed with the Richmond Symphony:

E. Lalo Symphonie Espagnole for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 21 (without 3rd movement)
F. Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
C. Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
H. Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

For the first round each candidate’s performance slot is 25 minutes and for the semi-final each candidate’s performance slot is 30 minutes. These performance slots must include coming on and off stage, tuning at the start and between pieces, all of the selected repertoire and deserved applause. Please do bear these timings in mind when selecting your repertoire.

^ indicates work may be played with sheet music
ˣ indicates work to be performed with the official chamber musicians provided
+ indicates that a copy of the sheet music will need to be provided for the jury

 

Prizes

Senior Section

1st Prize USD $20,000 plus a 2-year loan of a golden period Stradivarius violin from the private collection of Jonathan Moulds CBE
2nd Prize USD $15,000
3rd Prize USD $10,000
4th Prize USD $5,000
Chamber Music Award USD $1,500
Composer Award USD $1,500
Audience Prize (hall) USD $1,500
Audience Prize (online) USD $1,500

Junior Section

1st Prize USD $10,000 plus a 2-year loan of a fine old Italian violin, sponsored by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins London & New York
2nd Prize USD $7,500
3rd Prize USD $5,000
4th Prize USD $4,000
5th Prize USD $3,000
Chamber Music Award USD $1,000
Composer Award USD $1,000
Audience Prize (hall) USD $1,000
Audience Prize (online) USD $1,000

Additional prizes

  • 4 prizewinners will be selected to receive a GEWA violin case, awarded by GEWA music GmbH
  • The EMCY Prize for Exceptional Performance, awarded by the European Union of Music Competitions for
    Youth (EMCY)

Contact

Visit original competition page www.menuhincompetition.org

Prize winners

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