Record number of applications received

The Menuhin Competition is now closed for applications. Deadline was the 31 October 2011. We have received a record number of entries from all over the world. An international pre-selection jury will shortly choose 22 Senior and 20 Junior candidates who will perform in Beijing next April. All applicants will be informed whether they have been successful or not by 21st November.

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Who can take part in the Competition?

The Competition is open to violinists of any nationality under the age of 22.  Junior competitors must be under 16 years of age and senior competitors under 22 years of age on the 15 of April 2012 (everybody born after 15 April 1990).  Violinists aged 15 may also enter the Senior Section.

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The Repertoire

You can find the repertoire for Junior and Senior section on page 5 & 6 of the application form. The recording repertoire for the application DVD is on page 7. Download the form here.

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What is special about the Menuhin Competition?

• it is the world’s only violin competition with a star studded jury of musicians who will all perform in concerts and teach during the event
• all competitors are invited to stay the entire event, and those not going forward into the next round will take part in masterclasses, concerts and other activties
• accommodation will be provided for all competitors, official pianists are available and those in need can apply for a travel grant to get to Beijing
• it combines the competition rounds with a 10-day festival of concerts and events
• like the Olympics, it is hosted in a different city or country every other year

And in Beijing competitors have a chance to collaborate with the China Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in China, and to perform at the impressive National Centre for the Performing Arts and Beijing Concert Hall. They can experience the thriving Chinese capital, experience Chinese history and culture, and the hospitality and enthusiasm of Beijing's people.

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How are the Competitors selected?

The Menuhin Competition always receives more applications than it can accept participants. Each competition section (Junior and Seniors) takes 20-22 of the world's best players.

Applicants have to send a DVD with their performance of the required application repertoire and a number of documents including references. After the application deadline (31 October 2011) an international pre-selection jury will choose the strongest applicants to become competitors of the 2012 competition.

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About this years competition repertoire

This year's repertoire combines innovative changes the Competition has made over the years and features newly commissioned Chinese works.

The repertoire is divided into two sections (Juniors and Seniors) but the level of difficulty is almost identical because of the outstanding talent shown by Juniors in recent competitions. Both groups for example, will be asked to perform works for solo violin by Bach.

In 2010 the Competition introduced improvisation – unique among violin competitions – to the Junior repertoire. This was a great success and will be repeated in 2012. Competitors will be given a four to eight bar phrase on which to improvise for three minutes.

In the Finals, Junior competitors will perform one of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons without a conductor – each finalist will direct the orchestra themselves. This is another unique element, not found in other violin competitions.

Candidates will add a personal note to their repertoire by picking a virtuoso work of their choice and Seniors are given a choice of 11 violin concertos for the Finals.

For the newly commissioned works a Chinese national composing competition will be held prior to the Menuhin Competition. The two best works will be chosen, one for the Senior and one for the Junior section.

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What Competitors say...

Here is some feedback from competitors of the 2010 competition:

For me the Menuhin Competition in Oslo has been a cathartic experience. I came with the hope of winning a prize and I went back with a lot more: an understanding of music at a different level, enhanced by the Jury’s Masterclasses, and friends from all over the world, with whom to exchange ideas and experiences.

Laure Chan, Junior Competitor 2010

I liked the atmosphere of the competition a lot, because there was no sign of competition between the competitors. I made a lot of friends. I liked everything in the competition. The whole thing was the greatest experience I ever had in my life.

Kerson Leong, Junior Competitor and Junior 1st Prize winner 2010

The competition was such a great first experience, and everybody was so warm and welcoming in the Menuhin Team! Also, I had a lot of fun and had great chemistry with my pianist, trio members, orchestra and conductor. Meeting and watching performances of so many peers who are all amazing, and meeting them all in one place was quite overwhelming but interesting and so much fun!

Anna Lee, Junior Competitor and Junior 3rd Prize and Audience Prize winner 2010