Japan's Sendai International Music Competition Announces 2025 Finalists

Six violinists have been chosen to play two concerti each with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Hirokami Junichi

The ninth edition of the triennial Sendai International Music Competition (SIMC) is currently underway for violinists and pianists.

The finals of the violin edition will take place between June 5 and 7, and six candidates have been selected to proceed to this round, where they will perform two concerti alongside the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Hirokami Junichi. Each candidate must present a concerto by Mozart.

The selected players are:

• Haram Kim (Korea)
• Lei Hairui (China)
• Li Jinzhu (China)
• Moon Boha (Korea)
• Park Seohyeon (Korea)
• Zhang Aozhe (China)

First Prize (the Gold Medal) is valued at JPY 3,000,000, Second Prize is worth JPY 2,000,000, and Third Prize will receive JPY 1,000,000.

The winners of fourth, fifth, and sixth prizes will receive JPY 800,000, JPY 700,000, and JPY 600,000, respectively.

In 2025, the violin jury comprises Horigome Yuzuko, Hori Masafumi, Young-Uck Kim, Boris Belkin, Friedemann Eichhorn, Jaime Laredo, Cho-Liang Lin, Mihaela Martin, Liviu Prunaru, Terakado Ryo, and Yonemoto Kyoko.

Past winners of the Sendai Competition include Alena Baeva, Clara-Jumi Kang, and VC Artists Richard Lin and Yoojin Jang.