Violin Finalists Announced for The World's Biggest Stage Competition

The final round will take place on January 14, 2024, and live-streamed on The Violin Channel

Open to all violinists of all nationalities, ages 18 to 29 (by Jan 14, 2024), The World's Biggest Stage Competition has announced their violin finalists: Jaewon Wee, Zach Brandon, Eunseo Oh, and Masha Lakisova.

Each finalist will perform one movement selected from the newly composed Violin Sonata No. 5 “The Hero’s Journey” by Julian Gargiulo. The four movements will be assigned randomly.

The finals, which will be held on January 14 at Kaufman Music Center's Merkin Hall, will be streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel. Live tickets for students are just $1!

The competition's winner will be decided 50 percent by the audience (online and present at the final round) and 50 percent by a jury consisting solely of previous winners of the competition plus one celebrity judge.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000, be the featured violinist in the 2025 The World's Biggest Stage Competition (Jan 2025), be the featured violinist in the 20th Water Island Music Festival in St. Thomas, USVI (Jan 2025), and give a series of assembly-style performances (along with Julian) leading up to the 2025 competition in New York Public High Schools. Airfare (from NY), lodging, and meals will be provided (for the Water Island Music Festival) as well as housing in NY while giving the public school performances.

The three runner-ups will each receive $2,000.

Previous winners include cellist Johannes Gray, violinist María Dueñas, and vocalists Sage DeAgro-Ruopp and Anastasiia Sidorova.