Eligibility
The competition is open to violinists of all nationalities between the ages of 16 and 28. Contestants must have been born on or after September 17, 1998, and on or before September 16, 2011.
Competition
Schedule, rules, rounds, audition videos and everything contestants need to know.
Schedule
September 16th – 26th, 2027
Details to be announced
- New York
- 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Rules and Regulations
Rules and Regulations
Broadcasting
The organizer reserves the right to live-stream, broadcast, record, televise, film, and publicize all competition performances.
Dress Code
All contestants are required to wear elegant and conservative concert attire during all rounds of the competition. Female contestants are required to wear a full-length dress.
Repertoire
All competition repertoires must be performed from memory, including the Commissioned Composition, except for sonatas with piano in the preliminary round.
All repertoires must be presented without repeats. Any indicated repeats, including da capo and dal segno instructions, are to be disregarded.
Once contestants have submitted their repertoire, no changes are permitted unless required by the Competition Committee.
Collaborative Pianists
Each contestant will be provided with a collaborative pianist at no additional cost. Contestants may also bring their own pianist if they prefer; however, costs must be covered by the contestant.
Scores
Contestants are required to bring original scores for all works, including the piano part, and must also be prepared to supply full scores to the Organizing Committee and pianists for all works in all rounds.
Repertoire
Competition rounds
Preliminary Round
Contestants perform selected works from Paganini, Bach, Beethoven or Brahms, and one melodic encore piece. This round emphasizes classical foundation, purity of tone, disciplined technique, and musical understanding.
See DetailsSemi-Final Round
Semi-finalists perform a Mozart violin concerto, a Romantic virtuoso showpiece, and the official commissioned composition. This round calls for refinement, expressive control, and command of contrasting styles.
See DetailsFinal Round
Finalists perform a complete violin concerto from the official repertoire list, including major works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky.
See DetailsCommissioned Composition
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.
See Details
Audition Video
Audition Video
Applicants must submit three separate audition videos, performed and submitted in the following order:
Audition Repertoire
Paganini
One of the 24 Caprices, Op. 1 by N. Paganini. All written repeats must be performed. This caprice may be performed again in the Preliminary Round.
J.S. Bach
Two movements from one of the following Sonatas for solo violin:
- Sonata No. 1 in G minor — Adagio and FugaBWV 1001
- Sonata No. 2 in A minor — Grave and FugaBWV 1003
- Sonata No. 3 in C major — Adagio and FugaBWV 1005
All written repeats must be performed.
Final-Round Concerto
The first movement of the concerto the applicant selects for the Final Round:
- Beethoven — Violin Concerto in D majorOp. 61
- Brahms — Violin Concerto in D majorOp. 77
- Mendelssohn — Violin Concerto in E minorOp. 64
- Sibelius — Violin Concerto in D minorOp. 47
- Tchaikovsky — Violin Concerto in D majorOp. 35
The concerto selected here will be performed again in the Final Round. Tutti cuts are acceptable.
Recording Standards
- Sections A, B, and C must be recorded and submitted separately, in order.
- Every performance must be a single, continuous, unedited take.
- No video or audio post-production is permitted.
- A visible, continuously running clock or timer must remain in the camera frame for the entire performance and be clearly visible to the judges.
- Recordings without the required continuous visible time reference, or recordings that have been edited, will be disqualified.
- Recordings must have been made within the 12 months prior to submission.
If several pieces are recorded during one session, the recording may later be divided into separate submission files. However, the J.S. Bach Sonata must be performed continuously in one take and submitted as one file.
Video Format & Visibility
- The applicant’s hands and face must remain visible at all times.
- The same camera angle must be maintained throughout the performance.
- Live performances with an orchestra or ensemble are acceptable as long as the soloist remains clearly visible and audible.
- Each piece must be submitted separately and clearly labeled in English using:
Last Name_First Name_Title of the Piece - All application videos must be submitted as YouTube links, including solo performances and concerto performances with orchestra or ensemble.
Competition Information
Competition Information
Post-Application Process
Applicants will receive notification by email no later than July 8, 2027.
Qualified contestants will receive an invitation to the preliminary round. This invitation may be used for U.S. visa application and competition-day registration.
The Organizing Committee will email the commissioned composition to qualified contestants six weeks before the semi-final round.
Foreign contestants are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents and visas for entry to the United States. Early preparation is strongly recommended.
Accompanists and Scores
Each contestant will be provided with an assigned accompanist at no cost.
Contestants may bring their own accompanist at their own expense.
Contestants must bring original scores for all works, including piano parts, and be prepared to provide full scores to the Competition Committee and accompanist when requested.
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
- By applying to the competition, contestants acknowledge the validity of the Rules and Regulations of the competition.
- Contestants must abide by the arrangements of the competition’s Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to revoke the eligibility and prizes should a contestant be found in violation of the rules.
- NTD is entitled to all copyrights of text, audio, visual, and video products made during the competition.
- All awards must be accepted by contestants in person at the Award Ceremony. Absence from the Award Ceremony constitutes forfeiture of the awards and prizes.
- Contestants are fully responsible for handling any unexpected situations during the competition.
- The Organizing Committee has the sole and final authority to interpret these Rules and Regulations and reserves the right to revise, amend, or modify them as necessary. These Rules and Regulations are subject to change without prior notice.
- The final round of the competition will be live streamed, and a recorded, edited version will air as a TV special on NTD’s network.
Benefits
Benefits
Noble Mission
The NTD International Violin Competition is solely dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the European classical violin music — 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. By participating in this event, contestants can join the contribution to the renaissance of traditional culture.
Unique 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.
Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
All the finalists will have the opportunity to work with Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra. The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is part of the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance and music company. The orchestra brings together the finest musicians from the eight orchestras and specializes in performing all-original music based upon China’s rich heritage of 5,000 years of civilization. Alongside performing Shen Yun original works to great acclaim, the orchestra also performs classical masterpieces in its concerts, and frequently records concertos with talented musicians, which are streamed on Shen Yun Creations.
Global Live Broadcast
The final round will be broadcast live through the global TV networks, websites, and affiliated social media platforms of NTD and The Epoch Times, giving nearly 230 million viewers worldwide the opportunity to experience this musical event.
Global Promotion Platforms
The NTD International Violin Competition is the only world-class violin event hosted by a global media network. As the organizer, NTD is not only the largest overseas Chinese-language media network, but also offers programs in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and more. NTD connects with around 100 million viewers worldwide through satellite, cable, over-the-air broadcasts, streaming platforms, and magazines. Additionally, the network reaches over 70 million followers across YouTube, X, Facebook and more. NTD’s sister outlet, The Epoch Times, is published in 35 countries and regions. Across its media platforms and social channels—available in 23 languages—it reaches a global audience of 60 million readers and viewers.
Opportunity for Featured Interview
Award winners will have the opportunity to be interviewed and profiled on NTD and The Epoch Times, as well as their affiliated publications and multiple social media platforms.
Contact
Contact
- Email: violin@ntd.com
- Hotline: +1 (855) 561-0888
- Mailing address: The NTD International Violin Competition, 129 W 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001 USA
2027
Apply to Compete
The NTD International Violin Competition welcomes accomplished violinists from around the world to a stage devoted to classical mastery, authentic technique, and noble artistic expression. Contestants are invited to present the great violin repertoire of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods with discipline, sincerity, and refinement.
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