4th International Alberto Lysy Violin Competition - Semifinal

20 young violinists from around the world compete in 3 rounds before a 5-member jury. The winner receives concert appearances, including at the Menuhin Festival, a master violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume on loan for 4 years, as well as a cash prize. The final round takes place in the Church of Saanen, where the candidates are accompanied by the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra. The first two rounds will be conducted in the large hall of the Gstaad parish house, where the candidates are accompanied by pianists.

The competition is open to the public — admission is free.

1st Round: Thursday, October 8

Schedule: 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Semifinal: Friday, October 9

Schedule: 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Venue

Gstaad Parish House

Untergstaadstrasse 8

3780 Gstaad

Switzerland

Final: Saturday, October 10

With the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra and its new chief conductor Pietro Rizzo

Schedule: 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Venue

Church of Saanen

Chilchgasse 5

3792 Saanen

Switzerland

On the final day, an audience prize will also be awarded. The audience is invited to vote for their favorite. The winner will be presented by the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in the "Jeunes Étoiles" series in summer 2027.

The Alberto Lysy International Violin Competition was established with the aim of promoting young violinists from around the world and honoring the memory of the great violinist Alberto Lysy. The event is organized in collaboration with the Menuhin Center Saanen.

An internationally esteemed jury awards a high-quality violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume as a loan to the winner for four years.

The Jury

Adelina Oprean — Professor of Violin at the Basel Music Academy

Philippe Graffin — Concert violinist, professor at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris and at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel

Raphaël Oleg — Violinist, violist, conductor, and professor at the Basel Music Academy since 1995

Ettore Causa — Concert violist, professor at the Yale School of Music

Daniel Geiss — Cellist and conductor, coordinator of the Gstaad String Academy 2026 and conductor of the Gstaad Youth Orchestra