Applications Open for Vienna's "Violins&Soul" Salon Music Violin Competition 2025

Players aged between 15 and 35 should apply for this competition by March 18, 2025

Held annually, the AMADEUS Festival Vienna brings together international musicians at the AMADEUS International School Vienna for a series of performances and workshops.

In 2022, the festival launched a competition that focuses solely on the genre of salon music. The Salon Music Violin Competition "Violins&Soul” returns in 2025 for its second edition.

This year marks an especially significant milestone as the festival celebrates its 5th anniversary under the inspiring theme “Women&Culture.” In line with this theme, this year’s competition repertoire includes a special section honoring women composers, highlighting their contributions to the art of salon music."

The purpose of the competition is to reward young musicians for fine interpretations of salon music, a nineteenth-century genre that was hugely popular in its day.

The competition is open to players aged between 15 and 35 years of age as of December 31, 2025. Apply here by March 18, 2025.

For the initial round, applicants should submit a recording of themselves playing the following pieces (as well as further pieces from set lists):

1) One of the 24 Caprices by Paganini (ca.2.28-4.50 mins) 

2) Romance by Amy Beach Op.23 (ca.5.55 mins)

3) Liebesleid by Kreisler (ca.3.46 mins)

4) Capriccio No.3 Op18 (ca.2.14 mins) OR No.4 Op18 (ca.1.44 mins) by Henryk Wieniawski

Following the recorded round, selected candidates will be informed by email and will be invited to a personal interview with Mrs Karen Goh and Dr Wilson Goh, in person or via remote conferencing.

Then, the participants for the final round will be selected. They will attend the Janoska Ensemble Workshop on June 25, 2025, before appearing in the live finals on June 27.

The jury comprises Mrs. Karen Goh (Director of AMADEUS Festival Vienna) and Dr Wilson Goh. Further jury members may be invited for the live rounds.

The Grand Prize is worth €5,000, and a two-year loan of the 1709 Antonio Stradivari violin from the Goh Family Collection. Second Prize is €3,000, and Third Prize is €1,000.

You can find out more about the competition here.