Sofia is to host a new music competition that has the potential to bring together elite young violinists from Europe and the world in May of this year. The team of music company Cantus Firmus announced the inaugural edition of the Sofia Cantus Firmus International Violin Competition, to be held in Sofia from 9 to 11 May 2025. This forum is financially supported by the National Culture Fund and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria. Bulgaria. The competition is open to violinists aged up to 30 from all countries and nationalities.“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,” said Vassil Dimitrov, CEO of Cantus Firmus. “This first international edition has the pleasure of collaborating (in their role as jury members) with distinguished musicians and music teachers,” he added. The performances of the talented young musicians are to be judged by renowned masters of the violin, such as the famous Bulgarian virtuoso Prof. Mario Hossen (competition jury chairman), Prof. Michael Frischenschlager (Austria), Prof. Pavel Vernikov (Ukraine), Prof. Ruta Lipinaitytė-Savickienė (Lithuania), Prof. Joanna Kamenarska (Bulgaria), and Prof. Philip Draganov (Switzerland). Each one of them in their illustrious professional careers combines the role of a renowned soloist with that of an active instrumental pedagogue.

The competition regulations are designed in accordance with some of the most renowned music competitions around the world. After a pre-selection based on video recordings, 20 violinists are to be selected to perform live in front of the jury. The repertoire of the attendance rounds includes virtuoso solo pieces, sonatas, and concertos from various musical styles. Only three violinists are to be admitted to the final stage of the competition and will perform in a Gala Concert with New Bulgarian University’s Camerata Orphica. One of the compulsory works in this final round is a new music composition, commissioned by the competition from leading Bulgarian contemporary composer Gheorghi Arnaoudov.

Competition winners are to receive substantial cash prizes, as well as further music performances, one of which is a solo concert with the Cantus Firmus Orchestra as part of the 2026 European Music Festival. For the first time, the competition organisers are partnering up with the Géza Anda International Piano Competition in Switzerland. One of the prizes for the young performers provides the opportunity for joint concert collaborations of prize winners from both competitions in Bulgaria and Switzerland. Detailed information on the regulations and participation requirements can be found on cantusfirmuscompetition.bg. Entry deadline is 20 March 2025.

This new competition forum was created in partnership with New Bulgarian University and Radio "Alma Mater Classic A", the only Bulgarian classical music radiostation.