About
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.
To find out more about the previous editions of the Menuhin Competition, competitor feedback and the development opportunities that the Menuhin Competition arranges for its prizewinners, please click here.