Irving M. Klein International String Competition Names 2025 Semifinalists

Nine young string players have been selected to compete for top prizes at the competition this June

Open to musicians aged 15 to 23, the Irving M. Klein International String Competition is now entering its 40th edition with the live semifinal and finals to be held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from June 7–8, 2025. 

Join us here on The Violin Channel as we stream the competition live worldwide. 

Selected from 130 candidates, the 2025 semifinalists are: 

• Eiline Tai, cello, 17 (CA) | The Colburn School, studying with Clive Greensmith 
• Elizabeth Poppy Song, violin, 15 (NJ) | Northern Valley Regional Demarest and Juilliard Pre-College; studies with Masao Kawasaki 
• Joshua Kováč, cello, 17 (TN/Czech Republic) | Studies with Daniel Veis 
• Julia Schilz, violin, 22 (OH) | The Juilliard School; studies with Catherine Cho and Donald Weilerstein 
• Julia-Xiaozhuo Wang, violin, 18 (China) | University of Music Performing Arts Vienna; studies with Johannes Meissl
• Miles Reed, cello, 22 (MA) | Oberlin Conservatory of Music; studies with Dmitry Kouzov 
• Noam Ginsparg, cello, 21 (NY) | Bienen School of Music at Northwestern; studies with Hans Jensen 
• Shengyu Meng, cello, 22 (China) | The Colburn School; studies with Clive Greensmith 
• Yunji Jang, viola, 23 (South Korea) | Curtis Institute of Music; studies with Hsin-Yun Huang and Misha Amory

The grand prize includes a $5,000 cash award funded by the MOCA Foundation as well as performance contracts valued at $15,000 with the Peninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, Gualala Arts Chamber Series, and more. 

Second prize (given by Ruth Short in memory of Elaine H. Klein) will involve a $3,500 cash prize and a performance with the San José Chamber Orchestra valued at $5,500. Third prize (given in memory of Milton Preves by Judith and David Anderson) is awarded with $2,500. 

The two fourth prizes of $1,500 each are given by Maria Klein in memory of Jerry Lee Klein, and by the Tarka Quartet in memory of Ron Goldman. 

Additionally, each semifinalist not awarded a named prize will receive $1,000, and awards of $500 each will be given for the best performance of the commissioned work by John Harbison and of the solo Bach.

The 2025 jury will comprise Glenn Dicterow, Karen Dreyfus, Barbara Day Turner, Hal Robinson, John Wineglass, Jory Fankuchen, and Eileen Moon.

Past winners of the competition include Frank Huang, Jennifer Koh, Mark Kosower, Oliver Herbert, Robert deMaine, Teng Li, Vadim Gluzman, and VC Artists Tessa Lark, Nikki Chooi, and Zlatomir Fung.