Applications Closing for the Lionel Tertis and Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competitions

Applications are due for both England-based competitions by May 10, 2024

Two longstanding British viola competitions, the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition (LTIVC) and the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition (CAIVC), will join forces to run concurrently in 2025. Both competitions will be hosted at the Gateshead venue The Glasshouse and will play host to some of the best young violists around the world.

This development is particularly welcome for the LTIVC, since its most recent edition was in 2019 due to pandemic disruption. The competition will leave behind its original home in Port Erin, on the Isle of Man.

The two competitions target different age ranges, with the LTIVC serving violists aged 19 to 30 and the CAIVC open to players aged 18 and under.

The competitions will take place between January 19 and 25, 2025. Players in the later stages of the competition will be accompanied by the Northern Sinfonia.

Violists can apply for the Lionel Tertis competition here and the Cecil Aronowitz competition, here. Applications must be received by Friday, May 10, 2024.

Past winners of the Tertis competition include VC Artist Timothy Ridout, Paul Laraia, and Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt.

“I am honored to be the patron of these two viola competitions and festivals celebrating the legacies of Tertis and Aronowitz," said Nobuko Imai, Patron. "It is going to be a week to remember, and I want to encourage young violists across the world to apply."

"We are delighted to announce that Royal Northern Sinfonia will be playing for the finalists in both competitions at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music," said Louise Lansdown, the Executive Artistic Director of the competitions. "As Tertis and Aronowitz join together, our ambitions are to promote, nurture and inspire the next generation of violists."