VC LIVE | 2025 Classic Violin Olympus International Competition

Tune in from April 26-28 to watch the full Final Round of this year's monumental event -- direct from Dubai

We're coming to you LIVE from Dubai, UAE, for the 2025 Classic Violin Olympus International Competition. Open to violinists of any age, the inaugural competition aims to find the top violinist of the generation.

From the pre-selection stages held throughout 2024, the 12 finalists were drawn from the first and second-prize winners of the rounds held in Dubai, London, Rome, New York, Vienna, and Tokyo.

 

The 2025 finalists are:

• 40-year-old Soyoung Yoon (South Korea & Spain)
• 39-year-old Andrey Baranov (Switzerland)
• 48-year-old Boris Brovtsyn (Austria)
• 17-year-old Jinzhu Li (China)
• 42-year-old Haik Kazazyan (Armenia)
• 24-year-old Lorenz Karls (Sweden & Austria)
• 38-year-old Xiao Wang (China & USA)
• 25-year-old Karisa Chiu (US)
• 21-year-old Yuki Hirano (Japan)
• 47-year-old Mariusz Patyra (Poland & Germany)
• 23-year-old VC Young Artist Elli Choi (US)
• 25-year-old Ruifeng Lin (China)

 

The 12 finalists will undergo a six-phase program designed to bring out varying skills — including a performance with two symphonic orchestras, solo performances, and a Q&A with the jurors.

The First Prize winner will be awarded €200,000 out of a total prize pool of €320,000.

Additionally, members of the 25-member jury board of conductors and directors of acclaimed orchestras, festivals, and concert series, will offer a number of finalists the opportunity to perform live at one of their upcoming concerts.

 

Competition Schedule:

 

April 26 | Day 1 | Session 1 | 3 AM (ET), 11 AM (Local Time)

Xiao Wang | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Soyoung Yoon | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Andrey Baranov | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Boris Brovtsyn | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Andrey Baranov | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 5 in C minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

Boris Brovtsyn | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 5 in C minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

 

 

April 26 | Day 1 | Session 2 | 8:30 AM (ET), 4:30 PM (Local Time)

Yuki Harano | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
• Tchaikovsky: "Swan Lake"

Lorenz Karls | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Brahms Violin Concerto Op. 77
• Tchaikovsky: "Swan Lake"

Karisa Chiu | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Elli Choi | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Karisa Chiu | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 5 in C minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

Elli Choi | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 5 in C minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

April 27 | Day 2 | Session 1 | 3 AM (ET), 11 AM (Local Time)

Andrey Baranov | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1
• Tchaikovsky: "Swan Lake"

Boris Brovtsyn | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Brahms Violin Concerto Op. 77
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Xiao Wang | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Soyoung Yoon | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Xiao Wang | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 6 "Carpe Diem"
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

Soyoung Yoon | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 6 "Carpe Diem"
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

April 27 | Day 2 | Session 2 | 8:30 AM (ET), 4:30 PM (Local Time)

Haik Kazazyan | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Op. 35
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Jinzhu Li | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 46
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Ruifeng Lin | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Mariusz Patyra | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Ruifeng Lin | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 4 in B minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

Mariusz Patyra | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 6 "Carpe Diem"
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

 

 

April 28 | Day 3 | Session 1 | 3 AM (ET), 11 AM (Local Time)

Karisa Chiu | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Op. 35
• Tchaikovsky: "Swan Lake"

Elli Choi | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Brahms Violin Concerto Op. 77
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Yuki Hirano | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Lorenz Karls | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Yuki Hirano | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 6 "Carpe Diem"
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

Lorenz Karls | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 6 "Carpe Diem"
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

 

 

April 28 | Day 3 | Session 2 | 8:30 AM (ET), 4:30 PM (Local Time)

Ruifeng Lin | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47
• Strauss: "Ein Heldenlebelen"

Mariusz Patyra | Concerto & Concertmaster Solo with conductor Sergey Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

• Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47
• Tchaikovsky: "Swan Lake"

Haik Kazazyan | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Jinzhu Li | With cellist Alexander Chaushian, pianist Itamar Golan, conductor Christoph Poppen with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Beethoven: Triple Concerto Op. 56 in C Major: Mov 1

Haik Kazazyan | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 4 in B minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)

Jinzhu Li | Alexey Shor Violin Concerto and encore work with conductor Christoph Poppen and Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra

• Alexey Shor Violin Concerto No. 4 in B minor
• Encore work (to be announced on the stage)