Applications Open to Concours de Genève Viola Competition 2025

Open to international violists aged up to 30, the competition will take place in Geneva from November 4–12, 2025

Aimed at supporting young musicians pursuing international careers, the Concours de Genève has promoted over 800 artists since its founding in 1939. The competition offers two disciplines each year in rotation, including piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, cello, viola, string quartet, voice, percussion, and composition.

The 79th Concours de Genève is open to all violists born after November 12, 1995, regardless of gender or nationality. 

First prize of the viola competition involves CHF 20,000, second prize is valued at CHF 12,000, and third prize is awarded with CHF 8,000. Among other awards, the event will also present an Audience Prize of CHF 1,500, as well as the Young Audience Prize and the Students Prize worth CHF 1,000 each.

The first round will involve a pre-recorded recital to be broadcast from September 8–14, 2025. The Semi-Final will take place at the Geneva Conservatoire  from November 6-9. 

On November 12, the Final round will be held at Victoria Hall, where the finalists will perform with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. 

Chaired by Tabea Zimmermann, the 2025 jury comprises Tomoko Akasaka, Ettore Causa, Hsin-Yun Huang, Cynthia Phelps, Jean Sulem, and German Tcakulov. 

To apply, click here. The application deadline is April 10, 2025.

The jury will select the initial competition candidates through a video preselection round by May 4, 2025. 

In 2025 and 2026, the Concours de Genève is also hosting a conducting competition! Candidates born after 13 November 1990 will have until 7 May to register for the competition, which will take place over two years; the first two rounds will be held from 31 October to 3 November 2025, and the semi-finals and finals will be held from 3 to 13 November 2026. Candidates will have the opportunity to conduct the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, the Ensemble Contrechamps and the Orchestre de la HEM. Full programme and rules to be published shortly.