Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions Announces Semi-Finalists

A total of 16 candidates have been selected across both competitions for the semi-finals

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

• Rodrigo Agudelo-Celda | Spain
• Aiden Bhak | UK 
• Jaeyun Han | South Korea
• Jackson Hill | U.S./Canada)
• Yinuo Lu | China
• Eunsuh Park | South Korea
• Luisa Ye | Germany 
• Xunyu Zhou | China

The semi-finalists for the LTIVC are: 

• Francisca Barradas Vaz Galante | Portugal
• Brian Isaacs | U.S. 
• Wanxinyi Huang | China 
• Ami-Louise Johnsson | Sweden
• Sam Rosenthal | U.S.
• Yanan Wang | China 
• Sarah Strohm | Switzerland/Germany 
• 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.