Winners announced at 2026 VMAAI violin making competition

No comments

The awards ceremony included a special prize for 100-year-old Californian luthier Anthony Rizzo

image0 (3)

Centenarian luthier Anthony Rizzo with his two awards at the 2026 competition. Photo: Pablo Alfaro

The biennial competition of the VMAAI (Violin Makers Association of Arizona International) has concluded in Tucson, AZ, US. Violin maker Eric Rodriguez took home five awards including two gold medals and the ‘Grand Champion Best in Show’ prize. Jaime Gabriel González also took home two golds, while his wife Larni Prichard received one. The couple also won two further gold medals for an instrument they made together.

Most notably, California maker Anthony (Tony) Rizzo received both a silver medal for violin tone, and a special award for the best-sounding violin – which he built this year at the age of 99. ‘We also had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Tony’s 100th birthday during our convention,’ said luthier and VMAAI president Zoran Stilin. ‘He has been an incredible inspiration to all of us.’

The judges for this year’s competition, which took place from 12–16 October, were Christopher Germain, Grace Nakano, David Rife, Ann Weaver and Juan Mejía. The full list of winners is below:

Tone

Violin Tone, Classical-String

Gold: Eric Rodriguez

Silver: Anthony Rizzo

Merit: Henry Fisher

Violin Tone, Steel-String

Gold: Eric Rodriguez

Silver: Erick Díaz

Merit: Larni Prichard

Viola Tone

Gold: Erick Díaz

Silver: Kruno Kupresanin