Winners Announced at Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions

Xunyu Zhou won first prize at the Cecil Aronowitz competition, while Sam Rosenthal came out on top at the Lionel Tertis competition

Held concurrently this year, the UK’s Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition (CAIVC) and the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition (LTIVC) have come to a close.

In the final round, three candidates from each competition performed with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. The CAIVC featured violists aged 18 and under, while the LTIVC highlighted violists aged 19 to 30.

Both the Aronowitz and Tertis competitions were live-streamed here on The Violin Channel and available to watch for playback.

In the Cecil Aronowitz competition, first prize went to Xunyu Zhou, second prize to Jaeyun Han, and third prize to Jackson Hill. The "Best Performance of Competition Commission by Kathleen Tagg" was given to Jaeyun Han.

In the Lionel Tertis competition, first prize was given to Sam Rosenthal, second prize to Nicolas Garrigues, and third prize to Ami-Louise Johnsson. Extra awards included The John White Award, which went to Wanxinyi Huang, The Karl Doktor Prize, which was given to Stephen Savage, and the "Best Performance of Competition Commission by Garth Knox," which went to Rebecca Benjamin.

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 the best rendition of the Brahms Songs.

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

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