Auditioning for schools can be a harrowing process for many as the short duration that occurs in the audition room could determine your life for

24 year old Russian-born violinist Nadir Kashimov has been awarded 1st prize at the 2015 Washington International Competitions for Strings, in Washington DC, USA. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Pamela Frank and Shmuel Ashkenasi, Nadir will receive US $8,000, a concerto performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington and a solo recital at the Philips Collection Sunday series. 1st Prize in the viola division was awarded to 22 year old Yifei Deng, from China.

Applications are now open for the 2015 Washington International String Competition – from June 5th-7th, 2015. The competition is open to violinists, violists and cellists, of any nationality, aged 18-28 - who are are ready to embark on an international career, but who have not already secured professional management representation. 33 applicants will be chosen to compete in the final rounds, with the 1st placed violinist, violist and cellist to receive $8,000 USD and a number of performance opportunities – including a solo engagement at Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and a solo recital at the Philipps Collection Sunday Series.