The competition
Since 1983 the Menuhin Competition 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 international competition for young violinists 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 Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Gstaad (Switzerland) in 1957, the Yehudi Menuhin School in England in 1963, both the Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad and Live Music Now in England in 1977, the Menuhin Competition in Folkestone (UK) in 1983 and the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation in Brussels (Belgium) in 1991.
The Menuhin Competition has been traditionally invited by a host city or a host organisation and prior to the most recent editions it has been held in Cardiff (Wales), Oslo (Norway), Beijing (China) and Austin, TX (USA). 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 was then held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 12-22 April 2018. The Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021 took place virtually from 14-23 May 2021. In a significant development for the Menuhin Competition, 2023 marked a pivotal year as the competition established Geneva as its permanent home. Transitioning into a Geneva-based legal entity, this move signifies a new chapter in the competition’s storied history, embedding its roots in a city renowned for its rich musical heritage.
Members of the Board
The Menuhin Competition is managed by the ‘Fondation Concours Menuhin’, a foundation registered in Switzerland. The organization maintains strong familial ties to the Menuhin legacy, with Yehudi Menuhin’s daughter, Zamira Menuhin-Benthall, serving as its Life Patron until her death and Menuhin’s grandson, Aaron, as a member of the Board.
Etienne is the Co-Founder of Spring Equity Partners, a Swiss-based investment office with primary focus on wealth planning, advisory portfolio management and co-investment opportunities.
Before Spring, Etienne enjoyed a 30+ career in international financial institutions, as investment banker, private banker, and private equity investor, gaining strong in sight into the problems families and entrepreneurs are facing when trying to get the best from the investment management industry.
Board member of different family-owned businesses and Trustee of several charitable institutions, he is fluent in French, German, Italian, English and conversational in Spanish and Dutch.
Joji Hattori, Artistic Director of the Vienna Opernsommer Belvedere, enjoys a very varied career as a musician. Besides being a conductor and a violinist, he is also known as an entrepreneur of new, innovative projects. He also feels increasingly dedicated to supporting young musicaltalents. He is the President of Musica Juventutis Austria and a member of the board of the Foundation Concours Menuhin in Geneva.
In 1969, he was born in Japan but spent his childhood inVienna.He studied the violin at the Vienna Academy of Music and later continuedhis studies with Yehudi Menuhin and Vladimir Spivakov. In 1989 he won theInternational Menuhin Violin Competition in England. After a decade of international activities as a violin soloist, he participated at the inauguralLorin Maazel Conducting Competition in New York in 2002, where he was given a major award and the opportunity to study with the late Lorin Maazel for the following two years.
From 2004 to 2017 Joji Hattori was Associate GuestConductor, from 2018 to 2024 Principal Guest Conductor of the Vienna ChamberOrchestra, which he has conducted in numerous tours to over 15 countries. Hewas also Principal Guest Conductor and Co-Artistic Director of the BalearicSymphony Orchestra (Palma de Mallorca) from 2015 to 2019. As guest conductor he has worked repeatedly with many distinguished orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra London, Slovakian Philharmonic, Wiener Symphoniker, the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker or many symphony orchestras in Japan.
In the field of opera. Hattori was Principal Conductor at the Erfurt Theatre from 2007 to 2008 and Chief Conductor and Music Director of the open-air opera festival in Kittsee from 2009 to 2021. In 2009, he conducted three performances of The Magic Flute at the Vienna State Opera. He has also repeatedly worked at the New National Theatre Tokyo.
In 2003 he was made Honorary Member of the Royal Academy ofMusic in London. Having studied social anthropology at Oxford University (St.Antony College), he also continues to research the questions around thenational identity of human beings.
Born in 1972 in Geneva, Switzerland. Has an MA from theLondon School of Economics and Political Sciences. Studied documentary film at Ateliers Varan, Paris. Since 2006, has been associate at Intermezzo Films and works as independent documentary filmmaker. Has directed documentaries for cinema and TV:
Filmography (a selection)
Director:
2007 Magic Radio
2014 Broken Land
2018 The Greener Grass (research and collaboration on PeterMettler’s new film)
2022 Dreamers
2024 Totemic (in production)
Screenwriter:
2007 Magic Radio
2014 Broken Land
2018 Traces (in production)
2022 Dreamers
Born in 1957 in Geneva, married, father of 6 children and grandfather of 9 grandchildren (for now...), Bruno Mégevand, lawyer, was the founder of the Nomea Avocats SA law firm, which he led for 34 years. Now retired from operational duties, he remains "of Counsel" and focuses on supporting real estate development projects, serving as a board member for several companies.
However, always passionate about art in general and classical music in particular, most of his activities are now related to thesefields. Bruno Mégevand was the initiator of the Cité de la Musique de Genèveproject, where he chaired the Foundation Council for 8 years. Also passionate about this composer, he is the founder and president of the Gustav MahlerSociety of Geneva; he was closely connected to the late Henry-Louis de LaGrange - one of the greatest biographers of Gustav Mahler - and served as his executor.In Paris, he is the President of the La Grange Fleuret Fund under the auspices of the Fondation de France and a member of the Board of the La Grange FleuretLibrary (formerly the Mahler Musical Media Library).
In Geneva, Bruno Mégevand is also the founder and Presidentof the Urlicht Foundation Council, and a member of the Foundation Councils of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, and the Seiji Ozawa Academy.
Aaron is the grandson of Yehudi Menuhin. He grew up in the south of France, finishing high school as one of the last boarders at the Grande Boissiere campus of the International School of Geneva.
He went on to complete a degree in Philosophy and Mandarin, Msc in International Management in China at SOAS, then a law conversion course and LLM at BPP University in London before qualifying as a solicitor.
Aaron founded a law firm in the UK in 2013 and continues to work there practicing commercial law while living near Leipzig with his family.
Aaron has studied violin as an amateur in an attempt to better understand the instrument and to ensure that the family tradition of violin playing (begun even before Yehudi) is carried on to his children. He also is an avid painter with a brief period at the New York Studio School, although little time is left for this pursuit at the moment with 5 children who need to practice their instruments!
The Team
Alexandra Marinescu is a passionate and experienced professional in the world of classical music and visual arts. With over 20years of experience in cultural project management and music programming Mrs. Marinescu has served as the classical music programmer at the Cultural Service of the City of Geneva until September 2023, where she worked on the development of music programming for the Music Festival, as well as educational projects inGeneva schools. In 2021, she coordinated special projects for the 90th anniversary of the Conservatoire Populaire and was also responsible for the Verbier Festival Academy and the coordinator of the Verbier Festival 21st Century Artist program. Prior to that, she worked for the World Federation of International Music Competitions as a special projects manager. Mrs. Marinescu earned a DAS in Cultural Management from the University of Geneva and the University of Lausanne in 2021, and also pursued musical studies at the Conservatoire Populaire de Genève between 2016 and 2020. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Geneva.
Hyung-ki Joo is a pianist, composer, and educator renowned for his artistic expressiveness, innovative approach to music-making, and dedication to inspiring the next generation of musicians. His deep connection to Yehudi Menuhin has profoundly shaped his musical philosophy. Joo studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School under the mentorship of Menuhin himself, alongside distinguished teachers such as Hans Keller, Louis Kentner (Menuhin’s brother-in-law), Peter Norris, Seta Tanyel, and Vlado Perlemuter. At Menuhin’s personal invitation, he performed as a soloist at his 80th birthday concert at London’s Barbican Hall. Today, he continues Menuhin’s legacy as a mentor to students and alumni of the Yehudi Menuhin School and collaborates with Live Music Now, an initiative founded by Menuhin.
Joo pursued further studies at the Manhattan School of Music, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees under Nina Svetlanova, later receiving an honorary doctorate from the institution. He continued his artistic development in Vienna, London, and New York, working with Richard Goode, Oleg Maisenberg, and Ferenc Rados.
As a soloist, Joo has performed with leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, and the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. His passion for chamber music has led to collaborations with Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Viktoria Mullova, and renowned ensembles such as the Belcea Quartet, Dover Quartet, and Quatuor Ébène. He is also a frequent artistic partner to celebrated singers, most notably Asmik Grigorian, with whom he has performed at major opera houses around the world and at the Salzburg Festival.
As a composer, his works have been performed by leading soloists and distinguished ensembles and have also been programmed by major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. His compositions are published by Universal Edition and Modern Works, and he is also contributing fingerings to Henle Edition, continuing the legacy of Menuhin, who had a close relationship with the publishing house and played a role in its development.
In 2004, he co-founded the duo Igudesman & Joo with violinist Aleksey Igudesman, bringing a fresh and humorous perspective to classical music performance. Their collaborations have involved leading orchestras and artists such as Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, and Yuja Wang.
Beyond the classical world, Joo has worked with luminaries such as Billy Joel, Hans Zimmer, and John Malkovich, demonstrating his artistic versatility. He also curated and directed the opening concert of the Vienna Festwochen in 2023.
Joo’s multifaceted career continues to push artistic boundaries, blending virtuosity, creativity, and education to inspire musicians and audiences worldwide.
We thank all our generous donors and sponsors who make it possible for us to support young violinists
Support the competition
We strive to preserve Yehudi Menuhin’s legacy of supporting and enabling the careers of exceptionally gifted young violinists. Without the continued support from generous individuals, trusts, foundations and companies, our work would not be possible.
All support received is used by the Foundation Concours Menuhin towards this goal.There are various ways you can join us in our goal of nurturing the professional journeys of emerging musicians. One of the simplest and most impactful ways to support the Menuhin Competition is through monetary donations. Your generous contributions help us fund programmes and initiatives to support young players.We are happy to reassure all supporters that contributions to the Foundation will never compromise the artistic integrity of the Competition.
Other ways to support us include volunteering your time and skills, attending our events and by tuning in to our YouTube channel.
