We are delighted to announce our programme of events to take place during the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020. Our Artistic Director, Gordon Back, is in Richmond with Kerson Leong, winner of the Oslo 2010 Junior 1st Prize and guest artist with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, to make a live announcement from the headquarters of Community Ideas Station. Our co-hosts at WCVE are livestreaming this special performance which is available to view live or after the fact on our Facebook page.

For our full programme of events, please see our website here. Don’t forget that applications for the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 are open until 31st October 2019! For full details and to watch our video, click here.

Opening Gala Concert

The Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 will commence with a spectacular Opening Gala Concert, featuring the joint winners of the Geneva 2018 Junior 1st Prize, Christian Li and Chloe Chua, and Richmond 2020 juror Soyoung Yoon. In addition to their masterful performances of cherished solo violin works, a number of celebratory orchestral works will be performed by the Richmond Symphony, conducted by guest conductor Jahja Ling.

Competition Rounds

Join our all-star jury in their search for the next generation of great artists as 44 of the world’s best young violinists take to the stage to compete for the coveted Junior and Senior 1st Prizes. The Competition rounds take place in three stages with repertoire spanning over three centuries of music, including works by Bach, Telemann, Paganini, Rode, Mozart, Schubert, Franck, Ravel, Poulenc and Kreisler. In addition, all candidates will play contemporary solo violin works and a virtuoso piece of their choice, and the Juniors will perform freestyle improvisation!

Juror Performances & Masterclasses

A unique aspect of the Menuhin Competition is that the jury give performances, masterclasses and provide invaluable opportunities to support and develop the young violinists participating in the event. In addition to jurors featured in the Opening and Closing Gala Concerts, the 2020 Competition will include a Jurors Showcase, an evening which showcases chamber music at its very best. The jurors will also participate in a number of other concerts and events, from Ning Feng’s collaboration with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra to a panel discussion on the theme of diversity in arts which will be led by juror Aaron Dworkin. Open masterclasses given by the jurors will give the audience the opportunity to see these acclaimed performers guide the next generation of artists.

Concert Opportunities

There will be a wide variety of opportunities to see exciting artists perform throughout the Competition! Artists who will be performing include the legendary jazz violinist Regina Carter; Mark and Maggie O’Connor, the famed husband-and-wife fiddler duo; and the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 Artists in Residence, Sphinx Virtuosi.

Closing Gala Concert

The Closing Gala Concert will bring the Competition to a thrilling conclusion, featuring the Junior and Senior Prize winners of Richmond 2020! Joining them on stage will be previous winner of the Senior 1st Prize and inspirational juror Ray Chen, Sphinx Virtuosi and the Richmond Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Litton. The Closing Gala Concert promises to be a rousing finale to an exhilarating Competition.

Our Jury

The international jury panel of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 will be Pamela Frank (Chair, USA), Joji Hattori (Vice Chair, Japan/Austria), Noah Bendix-Balgley (USA/Germany), Ray Chen (Australia), Aaron Dworkin (USA), Ning Feng (China), Ralph Kirshbaum (USA), Anton Nel (South Africa/USA) and Soyoung Yoon (South Korea/Switzerland).