Announcing the Finalists for Concours de Genève Viola
Competition 2025
Press release: 10 November 2025
● Three violists have been selected for the Final round of the 79th Concours de Genève:
○ Brian Isaacs, 25 years old (United States)
○ Sarah Strohm, 20 years old (Switzerland)
○ Ayaka Taniguchi, 23 years old (Japan)
● The Final Round and Prize-Giving ceremony will take place on 12 November at 7PM at Victoria
Hall in Geneva.
● Each of the three finalists will perform 1 compulsory concerto composed by the 2024
Composition Competition winner, L. Albisetti, and 1 concerto chosen from the list provided with
the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Cornelius Meister.
● First, Second and Third Prizes will be awarded, as well as Special Prizes, including the Audience
Prize, Young Audience Prize and Students’ Prize. A full list of the prizes is provided below.
● 38 violists were selected to compete in the 79th Concours de Genève, from the 91 violists that
applied. This year, the ratio of men to women performing in the online recital was a 50/50 split.
17 of the 38 candidates were from Europe, 13 from Asia, 7 from the Americas and 1 from
Africa.
● Candidates for the Viola Competition were invited to submit their video application by 10 April
- The application included three works chosen from three different periods, with one
baroque piece, one virtuoso Etude and a piece accompanied by piano.
● The Semi-Final was held from 6-9 November in 3 parts. The first part was the solo recitals
where each candidate performed repertoire of their choice in a 50 – 60 minute recital. The
second part consisted of a chamber music round featuring performances of Mozart’s
Divertimento KV563 (movt. 1-3) and Luciano Berio’s Naturale for Viola.
● During the semi-final, the 8 candidates also presented their Artistic Projects in an interview
with Charlotte Gardner. This project may take a variety of forms, including a purely musical
proposal, a tour concept, or even a collaboration with other art forms such as literature, the
visual arts, or dance. The objective of this assignment is to provide the Jury and the public with a
deeper understanding of the candidates’ artistic vision and the motivations that drive them in
their musical journey.