Sendai International Music Competition

The Repertoire – Violin Section | Sendai International Music Competition Official Website

The Repertoire Violin Section

01. Pre-Selection

The Applicant must upload video data of his/her performance of all the pieces listed below (①②③).
Total performance duration shall be approximately 30 minutes.

  • ① Select two pieces from the twenty-two below.
    Paganini Caprices, op.1
    No.1, No.2, No.4, No.5, No.6, No.7, No.8, No.9, No.10, No.11, No.12, No.15, No.17, No.18, No.21, No.24
    Ernst 6 Polyphonic Etudes for violin solo, No.6 “The Last Rose of Summer”
    Grand Caprice on Schubert’s Der Erlkönig, op.26
    Wieniawski Ecole Moderne, op.10
    No.2 La Vélocité
    No.5 Alla Saltarella
    No.7 La Cadenza
    No.9 Les Arpéges
  • ②Select one sonata from the list below and perform both I. and II.
    J.S.Bach Sonata No.1 in G minor for violin solo, BWV1001:
    Ⅰ. Adagio Ⅱ. Fuga
    Sonata No.2 in A minor for violin solo, BWV1003:
    Ⅰ. Grave Ⅱ. Fuga
    Sonata No.3 in C major for violin solo, BWV1005:
    Ⅰ. Adagio Ⅱ. Fuga
  • ③Select one piece from the list below and perform the 1st movement with a piano accompaniment. The opening and interlude may be cut.
    Mozart Violin Concerto in B flat major, K207
    Violin Concerto in D major, K211
    Violin Concerto in G major, K216
    Violin Concerto in D major, K218
    Violin Concerto in A major, K219
  • ・The cadenza must be played within three minutes.

Notes about the Video Recordings

  • ・Video recordings must be unedited and made on or after October 1, 2023.
  • ・All performances must be performed from memory.
  • ・All pieces of the Applicant’s choice from above repertoire must be recorded on the same day at the same venue.
  • ・A separate video recording can be made for each piece. Each piece can be uploaded as a separate file (no need to create one file). HOWEVER, J.S.Bach’s Sonata I and II must be performed continuously in one take and uploaded as one file.
  • ・The Video Data must be taken from the same camera angle throughout and must clearly show the Applicant’s hands and face.
  • ・The Video Data must be of excellent technical quality and preferably recorded professionally.
  • ・The Video Data will be excluded from judgment if it was perceived that the hand movement of the Applicant during his/her performance does not synchronize with the sound.
  • ・The video camera’s automatic audio volume control function must not be used. This is because it reduces dynamics and nuances and often results in a recording which does not accurately represent the performance. The Video Data shall not have extremely loud (or quiet) sound volume, and shall not contain noise.
  • ・The Video Data must NOT contain, in image or in sound, the name of the Applicant, as the Pre-Selection will be carried out anonymously.
  • ・The Video Data may be excluded from judgment if the Video Data does not fulfil the requirements above.

02. Preliminary Round

The Contestant shall perform both ① and ② below.


  • ①Mozart Adagio in E major, K261
    Rondo in C major, K373
    • ・The Bärenreiter edition shall be used.
    • ・The Contestant must perform without a conductor.
    • ・The cadenzas for the pieces will be specified and notification of them made to those who have passed the Pre-Selection.
  • ②Ysaÿe Sonata for violin solo No.5 in G major, op.27-5

03. Semifinal Round

The Contestant shall perform all ①, ② and ③ below.


  • ①Select one piece from the list below.
    Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64
    Dvořák Violin Concerto in A minor, op.53
  • ②Perform the below piece as the orchestra’s concertmaster.
    Mozart Cassation in G major, K63: Ⅴ. Adagio
  • ③Perform the below piece as the orchestra’s concertmaster.
    Specified part(s) in the 2nd movement of Brahms’s Symphony No.1 in C minor, op.68
    • ・The part(s) to be performed will be specified and notification of them made to those who have passed the Pre-Selection.

04. Final Round

The Contestant shall perform both ① and ② below (all movements).


  • ① Select one piece from the list below.
    Mozart Violin Concerto in B flat major, K207
    Violin Concerto in D major, K211
    Violin Concerto in G major, K216
    Violin Concerto in D major, K218
    Violin Concerto in A major, K219
    • ・The Bärenreiter edition shall be used.
    • ・Contestants may select the same violin concerto which was performed for the Pre-Selection.
    • ・The cadenzas for the pieces will be specified and notification of them made to those who have passed the Pre-Selection.
  • ②Select one piece from the list below.
    Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, op.61
    Paganini Violin Concerto No.1 in D major, op.6
    Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64
    Schumann Violin Concerto in D minor
    Lalo “Symphonie Espagnole” in D minor, op.21 (all 5 movements)
    Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, op.77
    Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No.3 in B minor, op.61
    Bruch Scottish Fantasy, op.46
    Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, op.35
    Dvořák Violin Concerto in A minor, op.53
    Elgar Violin Concerto in B minor, op.61
    Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, op.47
    Bartók Violin Concerto No.2, Sz112
    Stravinsky Violin Concerto in D
    Berg Violin Concerto
    Prokofiev Violin Concerto No.1 in D major, op.19
    Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, op.63
    Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, op.77
    • ・Contestants are not allowed to select the same violin concerto as the one chosen as the Semifinal Round repertoire ①.
    • ・The cadenzas for the pieces will be specified and notification of them made to those who have passed the Pre-Selection.

〈Notes about the performance〉

  • ・All performances must be performed from memory (except for ② and ③ of the Semifinal Round).
  • ・All performances shall be open to the public.

〈Note about changing the pieces〉

・If a Contestant wishes to change his/her program for the Preliminary, Semifinal and/or Final Rounds, he/she must give notice to the Secretariat in writing no later than Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (E-mail is acceptable.)