Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions Announce Finalists

Tune in to watch the final round on The Violin Channel on January 25

Now being held concurrently, the UK’s Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition (CAIVC) and the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition (LTIVC) have announced their finalists.

The CAIVC is open to violists aged 18 and under, and the LTIVC is open to violists aged 19 to 30. Three candidates from both events will be selected to perform in the final with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Taking place from January 19–25, 2025, the Aronowitz and Tertis competitions are being livestreamed here on The Violin Channel.

The finalists for the CAIVC are:

• Jaeyun Han | South Korea
• Jackson Hill | U.S./Canada)
• Xunyu Zhou | China

The finalists for the LTIVC are:

• Ami-Louise Johnsson | Sweden
• Sam Rosenthal | U.S.
• Nicolas Garrigues | France

First prize for both competitions will include a £5,000 cash prize, a debut album with Champs Hill Records, and a shared recital at London’s Wigmore Hall in October 2025.

The winner of the CAIVC will also receive a Robert Shallock bow sponsored by Bishop Instruments & Bows Ltd., with two sets of Pirastro viola strings and one Pirastro Rosin.

The top prize winner of the LTIVC will receive an option to borrow a fine viola for one year through the Beare’s International Violin Society.

The second and third prize winners will be awarded £3,000 and £2,000, respectively. Special prizes at £1,000 each include the best performances of the Competition Commission, work by a British Composer, and best rendition of the Brahms Songs.

Chaired by George Caird, the 2025 CAIVC jury comprises Françoise Gneri, Robin Ireland, Lilli Maijala, and Thomas Selditz.

The 2025 LTIVC jury comprises Garfield Jackson, Sheng Li, Thomas Riebl, Asdis Valdimarsdottir, and its chairperson Jo Cole.