Announcing the 50th Anniversary Season of the Stulberg International String Competition

KALAMAZOO, MI—The Stulberg International String Competition is an internationally recognized competition that promotes excellence in string instrumental performances by gifted young artists under the age of twenty. Founded in 1975, the Stulberg competition will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2025. In celebration of this landmark, the competition will feature a panel of esteemed judges and a series of special events and concerts leading up to the competition day on May 17, 2025.The Stulberg competition judges for the 2025 season were announced during the opening speech at the 2024 Stulberg Competition on May 18, 2024. The judges for the 2025 competition are Li-Wei Qin (cello), Lucas Richman (composer/violin), and Rachel Barton Pine (violin). Two of the three judges have significant past connections to the Stulberg: Lucas Richman, having composed the music for the “Paths to Dignity” project in 2023 that premiered in collaboration with the Stulberg Competition and the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony, and Rachel Barton Pine, being a previous Stulberg medalist and competition judge.

2024-2025 Season Schedule

The season starts with the return of 2024 Stulberg Silver Medalist, Joshua Kováč as he takes the stage with Western Michigan University’s Symphony Orchestra on October 6, 2024. The concert will be free, open to the public, and held at Miller Auditorium, beginning at 3:00 PM. Under the baton of director Bruce Uchimura, Joshua will perform the incredibly virtuosic Sinfonia Concertante by Prokofiev.

On November 22, 2024, Stulberg Gold Medalist Mio Imai will join the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra to perform a soon-to-be-announced violin concerto at the KSO’s Masterworks concert titled “Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony”. This ticketed concert will be held at Miller Auditorium, beginning at 7:30 PM.

The next day, 2025 Stulberg judge Rachel Barton Pine takes the Kalamazoo stage for the first time since her medal-winning performance at the 1990 Stulberg competition. Alongside pianist Matthew Hagle, Pine will perform a suite of respected solo and chamber works, such as Paganini’s La Campanella and William Grant Still’s Suite for Violin and Piano. VIP Ticket Buyers to this unique concert will have the opportunity for a backstage meet and greet with Rachel Barton Pine following the performance.

Early 2025 will see concerts from two more Stulberg Medalists. The first February 9, 2025 concert features 2024 Stulberg Bronze Medalist Pearl de la Motte. Pearl will perform Cecil Forsyth’s elusive Viola Concerto alongside the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony. This ticketed concert will be held at Chenery Auditorium, beginning at 4:00 PM. The next concert will occur a month later, on March 9, 2025, featuring 2023 Stulberg Gold Medalist Amelia Zitoun. Amelia will join the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra to perform Schumann’s enigmatic Cello Concerto in A Minor. This ticketed concert takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, at Kraushaar Auditorium, beginning at 3:00 PM.

A celebratory gala in honor of the Stulberg’s 50th anniversary will take place in downtown Kalamazoo at The Desenberg on April 19, 2025. Tickets for this exclusive black-tie event will be available following a later announcement with more details regarding the event.

50th Annual Stulberg Competition

The season concludes with the 50th Annual Stulberg String Competition weekend on May 16-17, 2025. Master classes with the 2025 Stulberg judges will take place on May 16 from 3:00-6:00 PM. Stulberg’s master classes provide an opportunity for students, musicians and audiences to observe and learn from world class artists. Participants are selected by submitting an audition application on the Stulberg website.

On Saturday, May 17, the first round of competition will take place at the Dalton Center, after which the twelve semifinalists will be narrowed down to a field of six finalists. The semifinals are free, open to the public, and begin at 9:00 am. 

The six finalists will perform for the judges and a live audience at the Dalton Center Recital Hall at 7:30 pm on Saturday. The three medalists for the 2025 competition will be determined at this performance. In addition to a live audience, this performance will be live-streamed.

The finals are ticketed and will be an exciting and inspiring evening of music. Tickets are $30 for the Saturday performance, with a student price of only $10.

Julius and Esther Stulberg Memorial Prize

In honor of the 50th Anniversary, composer and 2025 Competition Judge Lucas Richman was commissioned to create a concerto that will be premiered by one semifinalist selected by the panel of judges. In addition, the selected contestant will receive a $1,000 cash prize and mentorship with 2025 Stulberg Judge Rachel Barton Pine.

The commissioned piece of approximately 25 minutes in length, titled “Concerto for (selected contestant’s instrument)” will be delivered to the prize winner in August 2025. Following the delivery of the piece, the contestant will schedule 3-4 virtual mentorship sessions with Rachel Barton Pine. 

Competition Applications

Applications for the 50th Annual Stulberg International String Competition open on October 15, 2024, and are open until February 1, 2025. Participants must be under the age of 19 as of January 1, 2025 to be eligible to apply. Applications can be submitted online using the link provided on the Stulberg website.

Twelve semifinalists will be chosen from the application pool. Semifinalists will be invited to participate in the live rounds of the competition held in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday, May 17. Semifinalists will compete before a panel of judges and a live audience.

Explore the Stulberg’s 50th Anniversary season and find out more information regarding events and tickets online at www.stulberg.org.