Classical Music News

Semi-Finalists Announced at Cooper International Violin Competition

January 8, 2025

2 MIN READ

Tune in to The Violin Channel to watch all rounds of the competition LIVE until January 10, 2025

The annual Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition features alternating editions for young pianists and violinists. Its violin edition is currently being held on the campus of Ohio’s Oberlin College and Conservatory until January 10.

The semi-final rounds are underway at Oberlin Conservatory’s Warner Concert Hall and can be watched LIVE here on The Violin Channel.

The six semifinalists are:

Lauren Yoon
Julia Xiaozhuo Wang
Emrik Revermann
Tiantian Lu
Edna Unseld
Jinan Laurentia Woo

First prize is valued at $20,000; second prize is $10,000; and third prize will be $5,000. The fourth, fifth, and sixth prize winners will be awarded $1,500 each, and the recipient of the Audience Prize will receive $500.

In partnership with MKI Artists, the 2025 first prize winner will also receive career mentorship and experience working with an agency during the next two concert seasons. The first prize winner will further gain a two-year loan of a fine violin from Jonathan Solars Fine Violins.

Additionally, the top three finalists will be awarded full four-year tuition scholarships to Oberlin Conservatory, if granted a successful application.

The final round will see six young violinists perform with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and conductor Norman Huynh on January 10 in Oberlin College’s Finney Chapel.

Chaired by Sibbi Bernhardsson, the 2025 jury will comprise Catherine Cho, Francesca dePasquale, Peter Herresthal, Xie Nan, and William van der Sloot.

Past violin winners of the Cooper Competition include Seohyun Kim, Eric Charles Chen, VC Young Artist Johan Dalene, Gallia Kastner, and Belle Ting.