Cooper International Violin Competition Announces 2025 Winners

Edna Unseld, a 13-year-old violinist from Zurich, Switzerland, won first place in this year's competition

This year's violin edition of the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition recently came to a close at Ohio's Oberlin Conservatory. Audiences can watch the entire competition here on The Violin Channel.

Edna Unseld, a 13-year-old violinist from Zurich, Switzerland secured first place and a robust prize package with her performance of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and conductor Norman Huynh.

Second place and $10,000 went to Julia Xiaozhuo Wang, while third place and $5,000 was given to Tiantian Lu.

The top three finalists will be awarded full four-year tuition scholarships to Oberlin Conservatory, pending admission.

Along with first place, Unseld received a $20,000 cash prize, a two-year loan from Jonathan Solars Fine Violins of a rare Italian violin made by Venetian violin maker Marco Antonio Cerin (circa 1785-90), and a two-year partnership with MKI Artists for career mentorship. Unseld will also be a featured guest artist with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra for a mutually agreed-upon performance engagement between the winner and the orchestra during the 2025-26 or 2026-27 season. This engagement also includes a $500 Arkady Fomin Scholarship Fund Opportunity Award, granted directly to the winner by the North Shore Chamber Music Festival, as well as a lesson with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Creative Partner Vadim Gluzman.

Chaired by Sibbi Bernhardsson, the 2025 jury comprised Catherine Cho, Francesca dePasquale, Peter Herresthal, Xie Nan, and William van der Sloot.

In the Recital Round at Oberlin, Jinan Laurentia Woo, Emrik Revermann, and Lauren Yoon earned fourth through sixth place, respectively, and each took home a prize of $1,500. Revermann also earned the Audience Prize, which includes an award of $500.