The 17th Primrose International Viola Competition, organized by The Colburn School in partnership with the American Viola Society, is scheduled to occur from June 17 to June 22, 2024, at Colburn School’s Zipper Hall. This prestigious event will showcase the world's most talented young violists, and all competition rounds will be open to the public. Tickets for the event will be available for purchase in early 2024. Additionally, The Violin Channel will stream all live competition rounds.
Applications are currently being accepted and must be submitted by January 15, 2024. To find out more details, visit the official competition website.
The Quarter-Final Round, set for June 17 & 18, 2024, will feature twenty-four participants, who will vie for a place in the Semi-Final Round on June 19, 2024. In the Quarter-Final Round, participants will perform pieces that showcase their musical and technical prowess, including a work by a BIPOC composer for solo viola or viola and piano. The Semi-Final Round allows competitors to perform selected pieces of their choice, demonstrating their versatility and originality.
The first of the two Final Rounds, occurring on June 21, will involve the top three competitors performing Debussy’s Trio for Flute, Viola, and Pedal Harp (1915) alongside flutist Denis Bourikov and harpist Cristina Montes Mateo. The second Final Round, held on June 22, will see participants performing either the Bela Bartók Viola Concerto or the William Walton Viola Concerto accompanied by an orchestra.
The winner of the competition will be revealed during the awards ceremony on June 22. The first prize winner will receive a $15,000 cash prize, as well as invitations to perform at the 2026 American Viola Society Festival and participate in the semi-finals of the Concert Artists Guild Competition. The second, third, transcriptions, and Illumination Prize winners will receive monetary awards of $10,000, $5,000, $1,000, and $1,000 respectively. The Illumination Prize is specifically designated for the best performance of a piece by an underrepresented composer demographic.
A distinguished jury panel, led by Jury Chairman Tim Frederiksen, includes Atar Arad, Cathy Basrak (First Prize winner of the 1995 Primrose Competition), Ensik Choi, Steven Dann, Ayane Kozasa (First Prize winner of the 2011 Primrose Competition), and Geraldine Walter (First Prize winner of the 1979 Primrose Competition).
Nokuthula Ngwenyama, a celebrated viola soloist, composer, and winner of the 1993 Primrose Competition, will serve as the Honorary Competition Chair. She will also create a commissioned piece to be performed during the semi-final rounds of the competition.
Running concurrently with the competition, the 4-day American Viola Society Festival will take place on the Colburn School campus. This festival will include recitals, presentations, masterclasses, youth competitions, exhibits, and various other events, centered around the semi-final and final rounds of the competition.
Sel Kardan, President, and CEO of the Colburn School, expressed excitement about the event, highlighting its role in celebrating young talent and the unique beauty of the viola's repertoire. Ames Asbell, President of the American Viola Society, also emphasized the significance of the competition in bringing together emerging viola stars and the AVS's commitment to promoting the instrument.
The 17th Primrose International Viola Competition is dedicated to honoring the legacy of Dr. David Dalton, a remarkable advocate for the viola and a former student and colleague of William Primrose. Dr. Dalton's immense contributions to the viola community, scholarship, and performance are remembered and celebrated through this competition.
