Cooper Competition for Violin to Take Place in January 2025

The Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition, produced ​annually by Oberlin College and Conservatory, has been identifying some of the world’s most talented young violinists and pianists since 2010. Each year, about 18 young artists come to Oberlin’s campus to compete for the chance to win a $20,000 first prize, perform a full concerto with orchestra, and earn full-tuition scholarships to Oberlin Conservatory.

“The Cooper” is set to return ​in 2025—this time with a slight twist. It will take place in the winter, with the opening day on January 5 and competition rounds running through January 10. The winter 2025 edition is open to outstanding violinists from around the world between the ages of 13 and 18. The field will be limited to 18 participants, selected from applicants worldwide and applications are due October 1.

For this competition, Oberlin is pleased to announce a new artistic partnership with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, based in Columbus, Ohio. The ensemble will come to Oberlin to collaborate with the three Concerto Finalists on Friday, January 10, in historic Finney Chapel. American conductor Norman Huynh will conduct.

“We are extremely happy and excited about our new partnership with the excellent ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and their creative partner Vadim Gluzman, CEO Janet Chen (an Oberlin alumna), and music director David Danzmayr. In addition to performing with our three finalists, ProMusica will also present our winner during an upcoming season,” says Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin professor at Obe​rlin and chair of the Cooper Competition for violin. 

The competition’s generous prize package is certainly a draw for young artists in the midst of costly educational programs. Cash prizes total $40,000, along with full-tuition scholarships to Oberlin Conservatory for the three finalists. But there’s also financial support for the violinists who will participate in the competition that will cover lodging and meals while in Oberlin and support for travel expenses. Highly accomplished collaborative pianists are also provided to the participants. The combination of this kind of support is often a difference-maker for aspiring competition participants.

Added exposure to a worldwide audience via live-streaming video provides a remarkable opportunity for any young artist. Every round of the competition is streamed live, and once again, the Cooper Competition will partner with The Violin Channel, a collaboration that will amplify the streaming reach.

About the Prizes
Cash prizes are awarded to violinists occupying the top six places. 
First Prize: $20,000
Second Prize: $10,000
Third Prize: $5,000
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Prizes: $1,500 each
Audience Prize: $500

The three finalists will be awarded full four-year tuition scholarships to Oberlin Conservatory, pending admission. For the first-prize winner, there’s much more to the awards package. 

A top-three prize winner will have the opportunity of a two-year loan of a fine violin from Jonathan Solars Fine Violins. 

In a 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.

Additionally, 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.

“We are pleased to offer a compelling and meaningful experience for all the participants, including the impressive prize package for the first-prize winner,” says Bernhardsson.

In fact, the Cooper Competition has been an important launching pad. Several of the top prize-winning violinists of the Cooper Competition have gone on to premiere competition successes and remarkable careers. These laureates include Sirena Huang (2011), William Wei (2013), Belle Ting and Joshua Brown (2015), Johan Dalene (2017), and Seohyun Kim (2022, pictured).

Performing for the competition jury is another opportunity for young violinists to establish important connections in the field. The 2025 jury includes Oberlin Conservatory violin faculty and other internationally recognized teacher-performers. Joining Professor Bernhardsson are 

• Catherine Cho, violin and chamber music faculty at The Juilliard School
• Francesca dePasquale, Oberlin Conservatory violin professor
• Peter Herresthal, violin faculty at the Oslo Academy, Royal College of Music in London, and NYU’s Steinhardt School
• Xie Nan, violin professor and chair of the violin department at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China
• William van der Sloot, Oberlin Conservatory violin professor

Official collaborative pianists will be announced at a later date.

For complete competition details, please visit the Cooper Competition website.

Founded in 2010, the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition is dedicated to presenting an important international competitive opportunity to outstanding young musicians. It is made possible through the generosity of Thomas Cooper, a 1978 graduate of Oberlin College, and his wife, pianist Evon Cooper. The Cooper Competition alternates annually between piano and violin and is open to participants between the ages of 13 and 18.