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Philadelphia International Music Festival Competitions
About Our Competitions
The Philadelphia International Music Festival has been hosting international competitions for nearly 30 years. Our repertoire of contests has included: instrumental concerto competitions, piano competitions, ensemble and orchestra competitions, and virtual competitions.
First, second, and third place winners of each individual competition are awarded a partial scholarship to PIMF, and an invitation to the annual PIMF Winners’ Circle Concert, featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
The overall Concerto Competition winner each year is also awarded an opportunity to solo with the New York Session Symphony, United States Army Field Band, or other community or professional orchestra.
Winners have also performed with the Ocean City Pops Orchestra in Ocean City, New Jersey and the Symphonicity Orchestra of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Competition Adjudicators
Previous Adjudication Boards Have Included:
David Kim, Concertmaster, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Marc Rovetti, Assistant Concertmaster, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Hai-Ye Ni, Principal Cello, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Jeffrey Lang, Associate Principal Horn, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Madison Day, Past PIMF Concerto Competition Winner and Current Assistant Artistic Director at the Philadelphia International Music Festival
Svetlana Smolina, International Piano Soloist
Yu Xi Wang, Pianist, Curtis Institute of Music Faculty
The Adjudication Board at the Philadelphia International Music Festival annually includes some of the most outstanding musicians in the classical world. Past adjudication board members have included Marc Rovetti, Assistant Concertmaster, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Hai-Ye Ni, Principal Cello, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Boris Allakhverdyan, Principal Clarinet, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many others.
Featured Performances
PIMF Concerto Competition winners feature with professional and community orchestras throughout the United States! Winners have performed with the United States Army Field Band, New York Session Symphony, Ocean City Pops, and the Symphonicity Orchestra of Virginia Beach.
Bensen Kwan – Winner of the Philadelphia International Music Festival’s Virtual Concerto Competition – performing with the United States Army Field Band in March 2023.
Past PIMF Competition Winners
2021 Concerto Competition Winners:
Overall Winner (June)
Collin Parker-Szekely, piano
13-15 Winner (June)
Collin Parker-Szekely, piano
16-18 Winner (June)
Isabel Pulido, violin
Overall Winner (July)
Anh Ngo, piano
13 & Under Winner (July)
Joseph Margolis, cello
13-15 Winner (July)
Anh Ngo, piano
16-18 Winner (July)
Katarina Nieminen, violin
2019 Concerto Competition Winners:
Overall Winner (June)
Chanul Kim, clarinet
11-14 Winner (June)
Seanne Buenafe, piano
15-18 Winner (June)
William Chen, piano
19-Over Age Winner (June)
Chanul Kim, clarinet
Overall Winners (July)
Elli Choi, violin
Mio Imai, violin
10 & Under Winner (July)
Mio Imai, violin
11-14 Winner (July)
Sophie Chung, violin
15-18 Winner (July)
Elli Choi, violin
2019 Bach Double & Vivaldi Competition Winners:
Vivaldi Competition Winner
Linus Dubischar, cello
Bach Double 1st Movement Winner
Nia Esposito, violin
Bach Double 2nd Movement Winner
Sayer Stewart, violin
2019 Piano Competition Winner:
Nicolas Salloum, piano
Recent Concerto Competition Winners:
Elli Choi:
Winner, Wieniawski Lipinski Competition 2015
Winner, Monaco World Music Competition 2016
Semi-Finalist, Menuhin Competition 2018
Finalist, 2019 Montreal International Violin Competition
Antoni Ingielewicz:
Semi-Finalist, Menuhin Competition 2016
Additional Concerto Competition Winners:
2018 – July Overall Winner
Julian Shively, cello
2018 – June Overall Winner
Hannah Goldstick, violin
2018 – Piano Competition Winner
Alyssa Gabrilovich, piano
2017 – June Overall Winner
Paul Stelben, bassoon
2017 – July Overall Winners
August Schieldrop, tuba
Sophie Leung, violin
Maggie Kasinger, violin
2016 – Overall Winner
Antoni Ingielewicz, violin
