After the postponement of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020, we are delighted to announce several exciting items related to Richmond 2021. In addition to our program of events and our new logo, we are pleased to announce an exclusive online festival with the Violin Channel, featuring rounds from previous Competitions, content from Competition alumni and interviews with artists. Read on for more details.

All 44 of our competitors have confirmed that they will be participating in the Richmond 2021 Competition and we can’t wait to see them in Richmond.

Don’t forget that some of our competitors featured in VPM’s podcast, Making Menuhin. You can get to know them and their stories by searching for Making Menuhin on your favourite podcast platform or by visiting the VPM website here.

Our new logo for Richmond 2021 was kindly designed by our friends at NDP. A well-established advertising agency based in Richmond, Virginia, NDP has served many Virginia organisations including the VMFA, The Jefferson Hotel and VCU Health, among others. The NDP team were keen to keep the violin shape that they had incorporated into the Richmond 2020 logo, maintaining a sense of consistency in our branding from 2020 to 2021. 

Our friends at the Violin Channel will be hosting an exclusive Menuhin Competition online festival on 16th and 17th October. They will be sharing footage from previous Competitions, as well as interviews, performances from home and more from Competition alumni. Make sure you follow their Facebook page to find out more.

We are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation and at this time are planning to proceed with Competition activities as scheduled for 2020. Our main concern is to present a Menuhin Competition which is safe and enjoyable for all participants and attendees so all. For now, we are pleased to share with you the line-up of events and concerts for the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. As well as each Competition round, we have a number of highlights for music lovers. To find out when tickets go on sale, sign up for our newsletter here and we’ll keep you up to date.

The Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021 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 2021 juror, Soyoung Yoon. In addition to their masterful performances of cherished solo violin works, a number of celebratory orchestral pieces will be performed by the Richmond Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor Jahja Ling.

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 solo violin works and a virtuoso piece of the choice, and the Juniors will perform freestyle improvisation!

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 the jurors featured in our Opening and Closing Gala Concerts, the 2021 Competition will include a Jurors Showcase, an evening showcasing chamber music at its very best. The jurors will also participate in a number of other concerts and events, including a panel discussion on the theme of diversity in the arts, 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.

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 Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021 Artists-in-Residence, Sphinx Virtuosi.

The Closing Gala Concert will bring the Competition to a thrilling conclusion, featuring the Junior and Senior Prize winners of Richmond 2021! Joining them on stage will be the Sphinx Virtuosi and the Richmond Symphony, with guest conductor Andrew Litton, and you can see a selection of exhilarating and rousing repertoire as the Competition draws to an exciting close.