Violin 2025
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 through FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025
About the Competition
The Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition brings some of the world’s most talented young musicians to the campus of Oberlin College and Conservatory every summer. Alternating years feature a competition for violinists and a competition for pianists.
The Cooper Competition for Violin returns in January 2025.
Eligibility
Young violinists (ages 13-18) who have not yet enrolled in college, and who have not won one of the top three prizes in a previous Cooper competition are eligible to participate. The field of competitors will be limited to 18 violinists.
Learn more about the rules and see Frequently Asked Questions.
Participant Support
Lodging and meals will be provided for the participating violinist during the week of the competition.
Eligible travel expenses for each participant will be reimbursed by the competition.
Learn more about competition expenses and participant financial support.
Competition Rounds
The competition rounds and performances from January 6-9 will take place in Oberlin Conservatory’s Warner Concert Hall and are free and open to the public.
All competition rounds and performances, beginning January 6 and running through January 9, will be streamed live on oberlin.edu and on The Violin Channel.
Competition Finals
The ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Norman Hyunh, is the collaborative orchestra for the Finals Round at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 10 in Finney Chapel, streaming live on oberlin.edu and on The Violin Channel.
Prizes
First Prize: $20,000
Second Prize: $10,000
Third Prize: $5,000
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Prizes: $1,500 each
Audience Prize: $500
The top three finalists will be awarded full four-year tuition scholarships to Oberlin Conservatory, pending admission.
Additional Awards
A top-three prize winner will have the opportunity of a two-year loan of a fine violin from Jonathan Solars Fine Violins.
In partnership with MKI Artists, the 2025 Cooper Competition First Prize winner will receive career mentorship and gain experience working with an agency during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.
The winner of the 2025 Cooper Competition will be a featured guest artist with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra for a mutually agreed upon performance engagement between the winner and the orchestra during the 2025-26 or 2026-27 season. This engagement also includes a $500 Arkady Fomin Scholarship Fund Opportunity Award, granted directly to the winner by the North Shore Chamber Music Festival, as well as a lesson with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Creative Partner Vadim Gluzman.
Official Luthier
Maxwell A. Morgan, Luthier
Maxwell’s Restorations, LLC
1637 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44120
(216) 543-1771
News and Updates
Follow developing news about the 2025 Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition for violin on Facebook, Instagram, and on the Oberlin News Center.