Schedule Announced for 2021 Menuhin Competition

The Menuhin Competition and the Richmond Symphony have announced the schedule of virtual and in-person events for the 2021 Menuhin Competition Richmond Edition

As announced in March, the competition will take place virtually from May 14-23, 2021.

Competitors will submit "one take," non-edited video files of their performances for judging. The required repertoire was adjusted to account for the lack of orchestra, chamber ensemble, or even piano accompaniment.

The first round of competition performances in the junior and senior divisions are scheduled for April 26-27 and April 28-29.

The semi-final round for the junior division will be held on May 15 and the senior round will be held on May 16.

Hosted by Fred Child, longtime host of Performance Today, the junior and senior finals will be held on May 21 and 22 respectively.

This year's prizegiving ceremony and competition gala presentation will both be held on May 23.

Featured competition guests include TwoSet Violin, Regina Carter, VC Rising Stars Chloe Chua and Christian Li, Mark and Maggie O'Connor, the Sphinx Virtuosi, Aaron Dworkin, and Dr. Ronald Crutcher.

Competition events include an in-person performance with conductor Jahja Ling, the Richmond Symphony, and violinist Angelo Xiang Yu featuring the world premiere of Mason Bates’ Bound Away on May 14 and 15.

The 2021 competition will be produced, streamed, and televised by VPM as well as broadcasted on the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021 website and YouTube channel —and The Violin Channel.

“We look forward to thousands of viewers from around the world joining us online and in spirit to celebrate extraordinary violin performances by talented American and international musicians and guest artists,” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said.

This year's jury is comprised of violinist Pamela Frank (Chair), violinist and conductor Joji Hattori (Vice-Chair), violinist and entrepreneur Aaron Dworkin, pianist Piers Lane, violinists Soyoung Yoon, VC Artists Noah Bendix-Balgley and Angelo Xiang Yu, violinist, conductor, and educator Alf Richard Kraggerud and conductor and Music Director of the Richmond Symphony, Valentina Peleggi.

As the competition's official international broadcaster, all rounds will be streamed live on The Violin Channel. You won't miss a beat.