International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition Announces 2025 Second Round Candidates

Eighteen violinists have progressed to the second round, which will take place at the Sibelius Academy from May 23 to 25

Held every five years since 1965, the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition is open to all violinists aged under 30. 

This year’s 13th edition has now announced 18 candidates from an initial pool of 40 from the first round. Now, 18 candidates will compete in the second round at the Sibelius Academy Concert Hall from May 23 to 25. 

The 2025 second-round candidates are:

• Gabrielle Després, b.2000 | Canada
• Otto Antikainen, b.1999 | Finland
• VC Artist Nakyung Kang, b.2003 | South Korea
• Wonbeen Chung, b.1997 | South Korea
• VC Artist Claire Wells, b.2001 | USA
• Hyun Jae Lim, b.1997 | South Korea
• VC Artist Minami Yoshida, b.1998 | Japan
• Sara Watanabe, b.2005 | Japan
• Qingzhu Weng, b.2001 | China
• VC Artist Bohdan Luts, b.2004 | Ukraine
• Marika Konishi, b.2007 | Japan
• Marina Wako, b.2007 | Japan
• Aoi Saito, b.1997 | Japan
• Amia Janicki, b.1997 | Switzerland
• Sueye Park, b.2000 | South Korea
• Yukiko Uno, b.1995 | Japan
• Alice Lee, b.2000 | South Korea
• VC Artist Anna Lee, b.1995| South Korea

In recognition of their progress to the second round, these candidates have also received a special prize of €1,000 each. 

For this round, they will perform both solo and accompanied repertoire. One of the required pieces is Outi Tarkiainen’s commissioned work “Seasons Remembered,”  which will receive its world premiere during the second round.

Among special prizes, the competition’s first prize will be awarded with €30,000; second prize is €20,000; and third prize is €15,000. The three other finalists will receive a special recognition award of €3,000.

Prizes also include an instrument loan of a fine violin by J & A Beare and the Beare’s International Violin Society for one year initially, with the possibility of an extension.

Chaired by John Storgårds, the 2025 jury comprises Elise Båtnes, Levon Chilingirian, Jinjoo Cho, Sung-Ju Lee, Réka Szilvay, and Jan Söderblom. The competition’s final round will be held from May 27 to 29, 2025. 

“Congratulations to all who made it to the second round!” the competition organizers posted on Facebook. “And heartfelt thanks and applause to every one of the 40 competitors who performed in the first round — giving their all, mastering a challenging and wide-ranging repertoire, and stepping with courage and commitment onto the international stage.”