Applications Open for 2025 “Premio Paganini” International Violin Competition

The competition will be held in Genoa, Italy, from October 14 to 26, 2025

The 58th “Premio Paganini” International Violin Competition, is open to candidates of any nationality aged between 15 and 30. The competition will see young artists play a challenging list of repertoire that includes chamber music and an emphasis on communication with the audience.

Between April and May, the preselection phase will take place through live auditions in Genoa, Guangzhou, Seoul, New York, and Berlin. Candidates will play two Caprices by Niccolò Paganini, one movement from the Sonatas and Partitas by Johann Sebastian Bach, and the first movement from the Violin Sonata in A Major, D. 574 "Grand Duo" by Franz Schubert.

Only 24 violinists will be admitted to the first round (preliminary stage) on October 15-16, 2025, in Genoa, where candidates will perform in front of the jury — which is chaired by Uto Ughi and composed of Ana Chumachenco, Pavel Berman, Pamela Frank, Mihaela Martin, Enzo Restagno, and Sayaka Shoji.

Six competitors will perform in the final round which will be held on October 25, with the Orchestra of the Teatro Carlo Felice, recently starring in a USA tour.

The first prize winner will receive €30.000, a series of engagements at many prestigious concert venues both national and international, and, for the first time, a recording contract with the Platoon label.

The winner will also have the opportunity to play Paganini's 1743 Guarneri del Gesù violin “Cannone” in a gala concert on October 26, 2025.

The Premio Paganini, whose first edition took place 70 years ago, is hosting concerts at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, Museo del Prado in Madrid, The Guildhall in London including a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Antonio Pappano, and former winner Simon Zhu who played the legendary "Cannone" violin in the presence of His Majesty King Charles III.

Applications close on February 11, 2025. Learn more here. 

Detailed information is available on the official Premio website: www.premiopaganini.it.