22-year-old violinist Julia Schilz receives the $5,000 grand prize and performance engagements
The annual Irving M. Klein International String Competition took place from 7–8 June in the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in California, US. It was open to young string players aged 15 –23. Nine semi-finalists were selected from 130 entrants, and three progressed to the final round.
This year’s grand prize was awarded to New York-based violinist Julia Schilz, 22, who received $5,000 and performance contracts valued at $15,000, including appearances with the Santa Cruz and Peninsula symphony orchestras, the Gualala Arts Chamber Series, and more.
The second prize went to Chicago-based cellist Noam Ginsparg, 21, who won $3,500 and a performance engagement with the San José Chamber Orchestra, and the $2,500 third prize to LA-based cellist Miles Reed, 22.
Two fourth prizes of $1,500 each were awarded to New Jersey-based violinist Elizabeth Poppy Song, 15, and LA-based cellist Joshua Kováč, 17. Song also received $500 for the best performance of the commissioned work by John Harbison, while Kováč received $500 for the best performance of solo Bach.
The remaining semi-finalists all received $1,000: cellists Yunji Jang, Shengyu Meng, Eline Tai, and violinist Julia-Xiaozhuo Wang.
This year’s jury comprised Barbara Day Turner, Glenn Dicterow, Karen Dreyfus, Jonathan Koh, Eileen Moon, Hal Robinson, and John Wineglass.
The competition was established in 1985. Previous winners include Pearl de la Motte, Emad Zolfaghari, Zlatomir Fung, Francesca DePasquale, and Jennifer Koh.
Read: Winners announced for the 2025 ISB Double Bass Competition
Read: No first prize awarded at the 2025 Sendai International Music Competition
The number one source for playing and teaching books, guides, CDs, calendars and back issues of the magazine.
In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.
The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.
The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.
No comments yet