Applications Closing for New York’s 2021 Barbash Bach String Competition

The competition will be held at Stony Brook University, in Long Island, New York, on December 1

Open to international string players 16 to 30 years of age, the Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach String Competition is focused entirely on the unaccompanied string Partitas, Sonatas, and Suites of J.S. Bach.

"This competition is unusual in that the participants are only required to play one sonata, suite, or partita of Bach, 2021 jury member, cellist Colin Carr told The Violin Channel. "It’s such a simple format: two movements for the first round, and the whole piece for the final. But isn’t that telling enough?"

"The competitors may play on modern or baroque instruments and bows, on instruments with four, five, or six strings, tuned in fifths, fourths, or a combination. As competitions go, this is perhaps the most humane I have come across!" he said.

The 2021 first prize winner will receive $5000, plus a number of performance invitations.

The jury will comprise Robert Mealy, Marilyn McDonald, Arthur Haas, Eugene Drucker, and Colin Carr.

Previous first prize winners include violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and cellist Maxime Quennesson.

RACHELL ELLEN WONG | BACH | VIOLIN SONATA NO. 3 IN C MAJOR | 2019 LILLIAN & MAURICE BARBASH J.S. BACH COMPETITION | 1ST PRIZE

Applications to be received by October 11, 2021.

For further details, visit: www.jsbachcompetition.org

As the competition's official international media and broadcast partner, all rounds will be streamed LIVE here on The Violin Channel. You won't miss a beat.