Germany’s Stuttgart International Violin Competition Announces Film Premiere

Join us here on The Violin Channel on June 17, 2025, as we premiere a short documentary on the competition’s exciting second edition

Commissioned by the Guadagnini Foundation, a short film about the second edition of the Stuttgart International Violin Competition will premiere here on The Violin Channel on June 17, 2025, at 1 PM ET.

Footage for the film was taken directly at the competition held from February 19–26, 2024, at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart (HMDK) for the first two rounds and at the Liederhalle Stuttgart for the finals. 

Blending live performances with behind-the-scenes moments, "2nd Stuttgart International Violin Competition – The Film!" showcases young violinists collaborating with quartets and orchestras before an international jury. 

"Music thrives in the moment – yet it is our deepest desire to capture some of these precious instances: the first notes resonating on stage, the spark in the eyes of young musicians, the convergence of talent, discipline, and inner passion," Markus Klein, President of the Guadagnini Foundation told The Violin Channel.

"It is not merely about virtuosity but about the essence of music: connection, expression, and humanity. A film can illuminate what often transpires in the quiet space between two notes – the dedication, the doubts, the beauty of growth," Klein added.

With a prize pool totalling €63,000, the competition’s 2024 first prize went to Anna Im, who was also awarded a loan of a G.B. Guadagnini violin. 

The film trailer can be viewed below. 

The film’s award-winning production agency and team captured performers’ moments on stage, orchestra and chamber music rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes footage. In post-production, around 45 hours of raw footage was managed to produce the near 9-minute film. 

The documentary was directed by Harald Rauser, founder and owner of the film agency Isle of Light LLC. The film team was led by Sergei Amirdzhanov, who was recently honoured with the German Camera Award for outstanding cinematography. 

"Viewers will experience the excitement of global talent uniting in a supportive setting, the thrill of artistic growth, and the joy of shared musical moments," the filmmakers told us. 

"This film is our tribute to all who sustain this competition – the artists, the jury, the audience – and our contribution to carrying forward the stories and spirit of music," Markus Klein concluded.