Gold Award
US$10,000
Recognizing outstanding artistry and classical mastery
About
A tribute to the golden-age masters of violin playing.
Mission
Mission
The New Tang Dynasty (NTD) International Violin Competition is one in a series of international cultural and arts events sponsored by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD). The mission of this competition is to uphold traditional arts, while honoring the golden age of violin playing through the timeless masterpieces of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods.
Through its commitment to artistic excellence, the competition—a tribute to the golden-age masters of violin playing—aims to ensure that the centuries-old legacy of the violin repertoire continues to flourish. We regard this body of work as a cultural treasure of humanity—one that should be preserved, cherished, and passed on to future generations.
Organizer
Organizer
New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD) was founded in New York in 2001. It is the world’s first global, independent, non-profit Chinese-language television news and entertainment network established by overseas Chinese. NTD began satellite broadcasting in North America in February 2002, then expanded its 24/7 programming to Asia, Europe, and Australia in July 2003. Headquartered in New York City, NTD is internationally recognized for extensive cultural and entertainment programs that blend the best of Eastern and Western cultures, as well as for objective, timely reporting on economic, political, and cultural stories in Chinese.
NTD also produces content in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and more. Across satellite, cable, over-the-air broadcasts, streaming platforms, and magazines, NTD connects with around 100 million viewers worldwide. The network also reaches more than 70 million followers across YouTube, X, Facebook, and other social platforms.
Beyond broadcasting, NTD is proud to organize the world’s largest international cultural competitions and events. Since 2007, it has launched a global series of competitions designed to promote and revive world and Chinese traditional culture and arts through large-scale, high-quality cultural programs and major events. This cultural platform—spanning Classical Chinese Dance, Vocal, Han Couture Design, Chinese Culinary, Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, Violin, Piano, Oil Painting, Photography, and Beauty Pageant—advances cultural exchange between East and West and helps audiences worldwide better understand the essence of traditional Chinese and Western culture: pure authenticity, goodness, and beauty.
NTD has also been the media sponsor for Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. As Shen Yun rapidly entered the global mainstream market in just a few short years, NTD, as the exclusive television media sponsor, made an indelible contribution by broadcasting Shen Yun’s artistic essence and cultural values to audiences around the world.
East meets West
Commissioned Composition
NTD International Violin Competition is honored to have received permission from the world-renowned composer and Artistic Director of Shen Yun Performing Arts, Mr. D.F., to select and adapt one of his celebrated works as the Commissioned Composition for solo violin. The Commissioned Composition carries forward the distinctive musical characteristics of Shen Yun. Drawing upon the rich melodic heritage of traditional Chinese melodies and the expressive depth of the violin, it conveys the profound spiritual and cultural heritage of traditional Chinese civilization. Through this unique fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions, performers are invited to explore the work’s artistic possibilities and bring their own interpretation and expressive choice to it.
Qualified contestants receive the commissioned composition six weeks before the semi-final round. It must be performed from memory and is judged for faithful interpretation, musical insight, and artistic sincerity.
Recognition
Awards & Recognition
Awards honor violinists who demonstrate mastery of traditional technique, depth of musical understanding, and the ability to express beauty, dignity, and moral refinement through performance.
Silver Award
US$6,000
Honoring refined technique and expressive depth
Bronze Award
US$3,000
Awarded for excellence in traditional violin performance
Best Rendition Awards
US$3,000
Recognized for distinguished interpretation
Shared with audiences worldwide
Outstanding performances will reach audiences far beyond the concert hall
The final round is livestreamed through NTD and The Epoch Times platforms, giving viewers around the world the opportunity to experience the competition. Award winners may also be featured through interviews, affiliated publications, and social media channels.
NTD+
Featured Interviews
Award winners may receive featured interview opportunities and media promotion.
~100M
Worldwide Audience
NTD connects with around 100 million viewers worldwide.
LIVE
Global Broadcast
Final round livestreamed through NTD and The Epoch Times platforms.
Jury Panel
Jury Panel
Contestants are evaluated by a jury appointed by the NTD Competition Organizing Committee. The jury is composed of world-class violinists and established violin educators, and its decisions are final.
Featured judge:
Professor Rodney Friend, MBE
Professor Rodney Friend is one of the most distinguished British violinists of his generation, with an international career as a soloist, chamber musician, concertmaster, director, and pedagogue. He made his London debut performing the Sibelius Concerto with the Hallé Orchestra and his New York debut performing the Britten Concerto with the New York Philharmonic.
In 1964, he became the youngest-ever leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He was later invited to serve as Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, performing and recording worldwide with conductors including Bernstein and Boulez. He also served as concertmaster of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, taught at the Royal College of Music, and later joined the Royal Academy of Music as Professor of Violin.
Professor Friend has appeared worldwide with major orchestras and conductors including Haitink, Barbirolli, Mehta, Leinsdorf, Solti, Giulini, Davis, and Boult. He formed the Solomon Trio in 1991, toured Europe extensively, and performed at venues including La Scala Milan. He has also authored major violin pedagogy works including The Orchestral Violinist and The Violin in 5ths. He received an MBE for services to music.
Additional jury members: TBD
Classical music elevates technique into beauty, discipline, and inner refinement
The NTD International Violin Competition celebrates the great violin masterpieces of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. With pure authenticity, pure goodness, and pure beauty, this centuries-old repertoire stands as a cultural treasure of humanity — to be cherished, performed, and passed on to future generations.
2027
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Join an international competition honoring classical mastery, noble expression, and the enduring beauty of the violin tradition.
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