Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition Announces 2024 Winners

Prizes were awarded in three age categories in this year's competition

First held in 1989, the biennial Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition has come to a close. The competition is available to watch for playback on The Violin Channel.

Supported by the Hohenlohe Cultural Foundation, this year’s edition was held at the Schöntal Monastery. The competition is open to candidates of any nationality up to the age of 21 and is split into three categories: Age Groups 1 (15 and younger), 2 (up to 18 years), and 3 (up to 21 years).

In Age Group 1, Mai Ikawa won first prize, Jayda Lu won second prize, and Tsz Yan (Tiffany) Li received third prize.

Mai Ikawa received €2,000, a GEWA Air Case 2.1, the Leonhard Prize, and the Munteanu Prize.

In Age Group 2, Natsuho Murata received first prize, Madeline Goh won second prize, and Emmy Gu took home third prize.

Natsuho Murata received €2,500, a GEWA Air Luthier Formetui, the Würth Prize, and the Munteanu Prize.

Age Group 3 did not award a first prize. Sofia Smǎrǎndescu won second prize, while Dániel Hodos and Yungi Kaneko received third prize ex aequo.

To read more about the special and bonus prizes, click here.

The 2024 jury included Paul Roczek (President), Rebekka Hartmann, Skerdjano Keraj, Florian Leonhard, Viorica Radoi, Baiba Skride, Yamei Yu, and Cem Esen (Guest jury member for the compulsory contemporary work in age group 3).

"The competition’s objective is to discover and promote talented young musicians at an early age and offer the chance to experience and interchange on an international basis," Artistic Director Marcus Meyer told The Violin Channel.