Natalia Dragan (aged 17) is the winner of the First Prize in the Tibor Junior International Violin Competition, which took place from 1 to 4 July under the auspices of Piccolo Violino Magico. Baiyi Tao (aged 16) won Second Prize, whilst Jayda Lu (aged 15) was awarded Third Prize. During the final in San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy, the three young violinists played alongside the mezzo-soprano Margherita Scaramuzzino and the Accademia d’archi Arrigoni, conducted by Michael Guttman. A total of 12 violin prodigies aged between 14 and 17 performed during the public rounds of the competition. Prizes totalling 8,000 euros were awarded.

Chaired by Pavel Vernikov, the Jury also comprised Michael Guttman, Sunny Lee, Silvia Marcovici, Marco Serino, Tatjana Sotriffer and Mami Teshigawara.

For its fifth edition, the Tibor Junior International Violin Competition made an exceptional trip across the Alps to host the Piccolo Violino Magico International Violin Competition, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The virtuosos competed in a series of musical feats across three rounds: a 1^st solo round, submitted by recorded video; a 2^nd round in San Vito al Tagliamento (Italy), during which the young violinists took part in a short musical ‘duel’ with another contestant, accompanied on the piano; and the final in San Vito al Tagliamento (Italy), which saw the finalists perform alongside mezzo-soprano Margherita Scaramuzzino and the Accademia d’archi Arrigoni. The candidates who were eliminated in the 2^nd round joined the Jury for the final.

The final, featuring an orchestra, was livestreamed on YouTube and also broadcast on The Violin Channel.

34 entrants (2024: 30) had registered to take part in the 2026 edition of the Tibor Junior International Violin Competition. With an average age of just over 15, they came from four continents and 15 different countries. With 13 candidates, China was very well represented.

Launched in 2018 under the leadership of Pavel Vernikov, the Tibor Junior Competition takes place every two years, alternating with its ‘big brother’, the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition. Aimed at talented young violinists aged between 14 and 17, it seeks to discover not only future virtuosos, but also, and above all, genuine musicians.

Since 2016, in a small, charming village in north-eastern Italy, the Piccolo Violino Magico International Violin Competition has been welcoming violin prodigies from all over the world aged under 13. This year, for its 10th edition, it took place from June 28 to July 5, once again in San Vito di Tagliamento.