May 13, 2025

The First Cantus Firmus International Violin Competition, Sofia has aroused the interest of dozens of young performers from all over the world and in a few days has turned Sofia into a musical center of world violin art. The first edition of the competition was held between May 8 and 11 with the financial support of the National "Culture" Fund and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria. The competition ended on Sunday evening (May 11) with a solemn Gala Concert of the Orchestra "Orphica" NBU with conductor Christian Shulz in the "Bulgaria" Hall. The event was also the final round of the competition, at which the final ranking was determined, because the prestigious jury made its decision precisely on the basis of the performances in the concert. The three finalists who performed with the orchestra were Stefan Burchardt from Denmark, Yejin Kim from South Korea and Yirou Zhang from China. Each of them performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 (movement I with cadenza), as well as the world premiere of the specially written for the competition work “Canticum” for violin and orchestra by the Bulgarian composer Georgi Arnaudov. After a highly contested competition in two rounds, the world-renowned violin pedagogues of the jury determined the winner of the main group to be the talented Korean violinist Yejin Kim, while Stefan Burchardt and Yirou Zhang took second and third place respectively. In the youth group, the first prize was shared by three Bulgarian violinists: Diana Chausheva, Vladimir Meranliev and Olga Doikova, the second prize was not awarded, and the third place went to Weronika Ilieva-Cygan and Dorothy Dankina. All laureates also received a number of additional awards, such as scholarships and opportunities for concert performances. The final concert of the competition was part of the 25th European Music Festival, held with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and the Sofia Municipality Cultural Events Calendar for 2025. Partners for the event are the NBU and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

A total of 23 young violinists were admitted to participate in the first International Violin Competition "Cantus Firmus", competing among themselves in two groups. Their talent and skills were evaluated by authoritative names in the violin art such as Prof. Mario Hossen - Chairman of the Jury, Prof. Michael Frischenschlager, Prof. Pavel Vernikov, Prof. Ruta Lipinaytite-Savitskene and Prof. Philip Draganov.

The Main Group for candidates from all over the world up to the age of 30, included 16 musicians from Austria, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Poland, Japan, China, South Korea, the USA, including three representatives from Bulgaria. The Youth Group, aimed at Bulgarian performers up to the age of 17, included 7 violinists in one round, who also had the opportunity to participate in a master class with the members of the jury.

Accompanied by intense emotions, hard work and valuable musical discoveries, the first International Violin Competition “Cantus Firmus” – Sofia ended with the solemn ceremony of awarding the laureates, hosted by Gergana Nikolaeva.

MAIN GROUP

First prize: diploma, plaque and a cash prize of 5000 EURO - Yejin Kim

Second prize: diploma, plaque and a cash prize of 3000 EURO - Stefan Burchardt

Third prize: diploma, plaque and a cash prize of 2000 EURO  Yirou Zhang

SPECIAL AWARDS - MAIN GROUP:

Cantus Firmus Grand Prize: participation as soloist in concert as part of the European Music Festival, accompanied by Cantus Firmus Orchestra, awarded to Stefan Burchardt

Radio Classic A Special Award: plaque and diploma, awarded to Victor Vasilev

Geza Anda Foundation Award - a chamber music concert in Switzerland, awarded to Stefan Burchardt

Fritz Kreisler Society Diploma and 500 euro For Best Performance of a Work by Fritz Kreisler, awarded to Yirou Zhang

SIMA Special prize - A full scholarship for the participation at the 15th Swiss International Music Academy (SIMA), 11 – 20 July 2025, Switzerland, awarded to Anton Georgiev

Special prize: Solo concert performance as part of the youth program of the "Varna Summer" International Music Festival 2025, awarded to Laura Kostner

Special prize: Performance as a Soloist with the Les Orpheistes Festival Orchestra in the CONCERT SPIRITUEL season in Vienna 2026, awarded to Maria Reis Sa

Special prize: Solo performances as part of the program for the 100th anniversary edition of the "Varna Summer" International Music Festival, 2026, awarded to Yejin Kim

Special prize: Participation in a Sion Summer Academy 2026 Masterclass, awarded to Iva Marinova

Special prize: A Chamber Music Concert in the "Varna Summer" International Music Festival, 2026

Awarded to Marcelina Sztekmiler

YOUTH GROUP

First Prize: Diploma and plaque, awarded to Diana Chausheva, Vladimir Meranliev and Olga Doykova

Second Prize: Diploma and plaque - not awarded

Third Prize: Diploma and plaque, Awarded to Weronika Ilieva-Cygan and Dorothy Dankina

Diploma - awarded to Maria Perperieva and Andrea Petkova

SPECIAL AWARDS - YOUTH GROUP:

3 Scholarships from the Ministry of Culture for participants from Bulgaria* Only for first, second and third prize winners - awarded to Diana Chausheva, Vladimir Meranliev and Olga Doykova

Master violin provided by luthier Alfred Binner on a 2-year loan, awarded to Vladimir Meranliev and Weronika Ilieva-Cygan

Scholarships of €500 for active participation in the masterclasses of the International Music Academy Orpheus, Vienna, 2025, awarded to Diana Chausheva, Vladimir Meranliev and Olga Doykova

Participation in the “Laureates” Concert by Cantus Firmus in 2026, awarded to Vladimir Meranliev and Olga Doykova

Prof. Emil Yanev and Prof. Liliya Gyuleva special scholarship: 1000 EUR, awarded to Olga Doykova

Special prize: Solo performances as part of the program for the 100th anniversary edition of the "Varna Summer" International Music Festival, 2026, awarded to Diana Chausheva, Vladimir Meranliev and Olga Doykova

SIMA Special prize - A full scholarship for the participation at the 15th Swiss International Music Academy (SIMA), 2026, Switzerland, awarded to Olga Doykova

Special prize: Masterclass Haus Marteau, Germany 2026, awarded to Vladimir Meranliev