International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition Names 2025 Finalists

Six finalists have been selected to compete in the final at the Helsinki Music Centre from May 27–29, 2025 

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 six finalists selected from 18 second-round candidates. 

The 2025 finalists are:

• Gabrielle Després, b.2000 | Canada
• Otto Antikainen, b.1999 | Finland
• VC Artist Claire Wells, b.2001 | USA
• VC Artist Minami Yoshida, b.1998 | Japan
• Amia Janicki, b.1997 | Switzerland
• Sueye Park, b.2000 | South Korea

The finalists will perform solo with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Dima Slobodeniouk, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra with conductors Pietari Inkinen and Geoffrey Paterson (both stepped in for Pekka Kuusisto, who withdrew for health reasons). 

In addition to performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto, the final will feature modern violin concertos for the first time in the competition's history.

The competition’s first prize is €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 each. 

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.