Jean Sibelius Violin Competition Highlights Young Talent and Musical Legacy
The 13th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition took place from May 19 to 29 at the Helsinki Music Centre, showcasing some of the best young violinists in the world. Held every five years, the prestigious event is organized by the Sibelius Society of Finland and the Sibelius Academy to honor Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and celebrate young musical talent under 30, allowing them to demonstrate their technical brilliance and artistic maturity.
Founded in 1965 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Sibelius’ birth, the competition draws top violinists from across the globe. This year, 42 participants were selected from a record number of applications. Six finalists advanced to the final round, performing two concertos ? one of them Sibelius’ famous Violin Concerto ? accompanied by either the Helsinki Philharmonic or the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The jury was led by conductor John Storgards and composed of internationally acclaimed violinists and teachers, including Elise Batnes, Levon Chilingirian, Cho Jinjoo, Lee Sung-Ju, Reka Szilvay, and Jan Soderblom. They judged performers on both technical skill and musical expression.
Park Sueye of South Korea won first prize with standout performances of works by Sibelius and Oliver Knudsen. She is only the second Korean violinist to win the competition, following Yang In-mo in 2022. Along with a 30,000-euro prize, Park will also receive mentorship from Storgards and violinist Pekka Kuusisto.
The 2025 competition spotlighted extraordinary talent. It also reinforced the lasting cultural impact of Jean Sibelius’ music, continuing a proud tradition that connects past and present through classical performance.
Sean Jung R&D Division Director teen/1750661751/1613367716
1. Where was the violin competition held?
2. How often is the competition held?
3. What prize did Park Sueye win?
4. Who leads the jury at the competition?
1. Do you enjoy listening to classical music?
2. Have you ever played a musical instrument?
3. What makes someone a great musician?
4. Would you want to join a music competition?
The 13th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition took place from May 19 to 29 at the Helsinki Music Centre, showcasing some of the best young violinists in the world. Held every five years, the prestigious event is organized by the Sibelius Society of Finland and the Sibelius Academy to honor Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and celebrate young musical talent under 30, allowing them to demonstrate their technical brilliance and artistic maturity.
