Dear participants in the first edition of the Sofia Cantus Firmus International Violin Competition, I am excited to share with you that after four successful editions of the Cantus Firmus National Competition for Young Instrumentalists in Bulgaria, we are now opening the stage to international participants – violinists up to 30 years of age. This first international edition, which will take place from 9 to 11 May 2025 in Sofia, has the pleasure of collaborating (in their role as jury members) with distinguished musicians and music teachers, such as Prof. Mario Hossen, Chairman (Bulgaria/Austria), Prof. Michael Frischenschlager (Austria), Prof. Pavel Vernikov (Ukraine/Switzerland), Prof. Ruta Lipinaitytė- Savickienė (Lithuania), Prof. Joanna Kamenarska (Bulgaria), and Prof. Philip Draganov (Switzerland). As a long-time organizer of the International European Music Festival in Sofia, Cantus Firmus is honoured to be providing one of the special prizes in the competition: a concert opportunity with the Cantus Firmus Orchestra as part of the 26th edition of the Festival. The event is to take place in Bulgaria Concert Hall (Sofia) in 2026. Over the past few years, Cantus Firmus has been partnering up with the Concours Géza Anda (Geza Anda International Piano Competition) in Switzerland, which has given us the opportunity to present laureates from both competitions in Bulgaria (Sofia and Varna) in concerts in Switzerland. I am sure that this is the best way to support talented young musicians and to present them in front of audiences. The performances of all participants in the first edition of the International Violin Competition are to be broadcast on Radio Alma Mater Classic A, the only Bulgarian classical music radio station, whose programme has been created and managed by the Cantus Firmus team for more than 30 years. I hope that through this medium the achievements of the young violinists will reach an even wider audience. We are grateful for the support the competition receives from the National Culture Fund, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture, and New Bulgarian University! We look forward to seeing you in Sofia in May 2025, and we wish you the best of luck! Vasil Dimitrov President of the Sofia Cantus Firmus International Violin Competition