Applications Open for Japan’s Sendai International Music Competition 

The 2025 edition of the competition is open to violinists and pianists aged 30 and under

Held triennially, the 2025 Sendai International Music Competition (SIMC) will celebrate its ninth edition for violinists and pianists. The competition is open to candidates of all nationalities born on or after January 1, 1995.

The violin edition will be held from May 24 to June 8, 2025; the piano edition will follow from June 14 to June 29, 2025. 

First prize with the Gold Medal will receive a cash prize of JPY 3,000,000; second prize is valued at JPY 2,000,000; and third prize will receive JPY 1,000,000. 

The fourth, fifth, and sixth prizes will receive JPY 800,000, JPY 700,000, and JPY 600,000, respectively. All winners will also receive a diploma. 

To apply, click here. Applications will close on October 23, 2024, 11:59 PM (Japan time). 

The 2025 violin jury will comprise Horigome Yuzuko, Hori Masafumi, Young-Uck Kim, Boris Belkin, Friedemann Eichhorn, Jaime Laredo, Cho-Liang Lin, Mihaela Martin, Liviu Prunaru, Terakado Ryo, and Yonemoto Kyoko. 

The piano jury will comprise Nodaira Ichiro, Ebi Akiko, Jacques Rouvier, Josep Colom, Dang Thai Son, Kevin Kenner, Vadym Kholodenko, Kim Daejin, Matthias Kirschnereiy, Neriki Shigeo, and Rena Shereshevskaya.

Presented by the Sendai International Music Competition Organizing Committee, City of Sendai, and Sendai Cultural Foundation, previous first prize winners include Alena Baeva, Clara Jumi Kang, and VC Artists Richard Lin and Yoojin Jang.

A short video about the SIMC can be viewed below.