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.
Menuhin Competition UK
The age range up to 22 years old (divided then in 2 age categories).
Pre-selection by video recording followed by three rounds.
Every two years
TBA 2024
TBA 2023
competition
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
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.
FIRST ROUND
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
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
The candidate will be given a 4-8 bar phrase and will perform a 2-3 minute free stylistic improvisation on the phrase.
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 ^
SEMI-FINALS
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 ^
A. Dvořák Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74
Introduzione: Allegro ma non troppo & Larghetto ^ ˣ
OR
Scherzo: Vivace & Thema con variazioni ^ ˣ
FINALS
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.
FIRST ROUND
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
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 ^
SEMI-FINALS
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
FINALS
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
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
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
www.menuhincompetition.org
