Special prizes announced

Following a jam-packed year of high-level preliminary contests held all over the world, culminating in a Grand Finale which saw some of the finest violin talents of our time going head-to-head in Dubai, the inaugural edition of the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition is now over, with Armenian maestro Haik Kazazyan taking the title of Champion of Champions, along with the spectacular First Prize of €200,000 and a Stradivari-model violin specially crafted by the renowned Fabio Piagentini! 

However, Kazazyan wasn’t the only winner at this finale. In order to guarantee a spot amongst the finalists, each of the 12 violinists who were present in Dubai had to first rank amongst the top two in their respective preselection contest, and the organisers made sure that their hard work and achievements were duly recognised, with each runner-up being awarded a separate prize of €10,000.

Moreover, these incredible talents were also eligible to win a wide variety of outstanding Special Prizes that were on offer, which were granted both by the organising committee, as well as the esteemed jurors who sat on the competition’s judging panel, whom we would like to graciously thank, both for their boundless expertise, as well as the generosity and support they continue to show towards the world of classical music. 

Listed in order of recipient, the full plethora of prizes at the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition is as follows:

Soyoung Yoon

• Daye Lin: Concert with Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra or Wuxi Symphony Orchestra (2026/27 or 2027/28 Season)
• Jurek Dybal: Concert at the Krzysztof Penderecki International Festival Level 320
• Drazen Domjanic: Solo recital with piano at the new HagenHaus Konzerthall, Liechtenstein (2026 or 2027) – Kulmag Culture Management LTD
• Sergey Smbatyan: Concert with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra

Boris Brovtsyn

• Tigran Mikaelyan: Concert with Neue Philharmonie Hamburg (2025/26 or 2026/27 Season)
• Pavel Vernikov: Concert at the Sion Festival
• Giselle Ben Dor: $4,000 from the Ben-Dor Music Discovery Project Foundation

Karisa Chiu

• Epifanio Comis: Concert with Associazione Musicale ETNEA, Catania

Elli Choi

• Drazen Domjanic: Solo recital with piano at the new HagenHaus Konzerthall, Liechtenstein (2026 or 2027) – Kulmag Culture Management LTD
• Sergey Smbatyan: Concert with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra
• Epifanio Comis: Concert at Festival Magie Barocche, Catania
• Marios Papadopoulos: Performance of Czardas (2-violin arrangement) with the OPO String Ensemble at Buckingham Palace Gala (May 15, 2025)

Yuki Hirano

• Umberto Fanni: Concert at Royal Opera House Muscat
• Konstantin Ilievsky: Soloist concert with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra (2025/26 Season)
• Tigran Mikaelyan: Concert with Neue Philharmonie Hamburg (2025/26 or 2026/27 Season)
• Drazen Domjanic: Concert with Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra (Concerto No. 6 by A. Shor – 2027)
• Drazen Domjanic: Participation in Academy of Music in Liechtenstein (Intensive Week / Concert / Symposium)

Haik Kazazyan

• Daye Lin: Concert with Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra or Wuxi Symphony Orchestra  (2026/27 or 2027/28 Season)
• Giselle Ben Dor: Concert with the Jerusalem Symphony (2026/27 Season)
• Lucas Macías Navarro: Concert with Orquesta Ciudad de Granada
• Tigran Mikaelyan: Concert with Neue Philharmonie Hamburg (2025/26 or 2026/27 Season)

Jinzhu Li

• Daye Lin: Concert with Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra or Wuxi Symphony Orchestra (2026/27 or 2027/28 Season)
• Umberto Fanni: Concert at Royal Opera House Muscat
• Facundo Agudin: Soloist with Musique des Lumières and National Radio/TV Orchestra Tirana
• Mischa Damev: Concert at the September Musical Montreux-Vevey Festival (2026/27 Season)
• Vicente Alberola: Festival invitation in Valencia with Mahler Chamber Orchestra
• Marios Papadopoulos: Soloist with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra (Future Season)
• Drazen Domjanic: Participation in Academy of Music in Liechtenstein (Intensive Week / Concert / Symposium)
• Epifanio Comis: Concerts with Orchestra Teatro Bellini, Catania and Orchestra Dinoma e del Lazio
• Giselle Ben Dor: $4,000 from the Ben-Dor Music Discovery Project Foundation

Ruifeng Lin

• Daye Lin: Concert with Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra or Wuxi Symphony Orchestra (2026/27 or 2027/28 Season)
• Christoph Poppen: Performance at the Festival International de Música de Marvão, Portugal (2026)

In conclusion, the inaugural Classic Violin Olympus International Competition has proven to be a resounding success, not only in discovering and showcasing some of the brightest violin talents of our time but also in providing them with incredible opportunities to continue their musical journeys. From the remarkable Grand Finale in Dubai to the diverse and prestigious prizes awarded to the finalists, this competition has set a new standard for excellence in classical music. Haik Kazazyan's triumph as the Champion of Champions is a testament to his extraordinary skill and dedication, yet the event has been equally rewarding for all the talented musicians who participated. Their achievements, recognized through an impressive array of prizes and performance opportunities, promise to further elevate the future of classical violin music on the global stage. As the competition concludes, we look forward to watching these gifted artists flourish and inspire future generations of violinists.