2020 IVC is cancelled.
See you in 2021!

General Information

The International Virtuoso Competition is open to advanced students of all ages up to 22 years old. We are accepting applications for the following instruments: piano, strings, and chamber groups. The auditions are held annually in Bergen County, New Jersey.

Auditions

PRELIMINARY ROUND (video)

April 19, 2020

All applications and video uploads are due. Finalists will be notified on or before April 24, 2020.
Please send us your YouTube or Wetransfer.com link via email to info@ivcompetition.com.
One composition from the standard music literature is required for all contestants.

FINAL ROUND (live)

May 3, 2020

at NV Hall, 400 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Requirement : One composition from the standard music literature is required for all contestants.
A second contrasting work is optional, but required for all students ages 15 and older.

All auditions must be performed from memory with the exception of wind instruments, contemporary, and chamber music.
No repeats should be taken at either audition or recital.
No changes to repertoire once submitted please.
Video submission will be allowed only for participants who are not within the Tri-State area.

Age Division

(A) up to age 10
(B) ages 11 to 14
(C) ages 15 to 18
(D) college up to age 22

Results and Awards

Winners will be chosen from all instruments (not individual instruments) within their respected age category.  Multiple or no winners may result in each of the age categories and instruments upon discretion of the judges.  Comments will be sent via email and judges decisions are final.  Please respect this policy.
We will upload the names and bios of the judges to the website at the conclusion of the competition. The adjudicators are  faculty and/or performing artists who are well respected in their artistic field from the metropolitan area.

Results will be announced on or about May 6, 2020, via our website, www.ivcompetition.com.

Grand Prize: Solo performance with the NY Tutti Ensemble in NYC (Spring or Fall of 2020).
Gold prize : $250 cash prize (multiple winners possible from different age category and/or instrument division).
Recital opportunity on May 17, 2020 in NYC.

Cash and special awards will be awarded to the top competitors with the best technical, musical,and artistic performance across all categories.The International Virtuoso Competition is open to advanced students of all ages up to 22 years old.
We are accepting applications for the following instruments :

PIANO, STRINGS and CHAMBER GROUPS

Application Instructions

Applications are to be completed online through the form below.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $100 for solo instruments and $60 for each member of a chamber group
due by April 19, 2020. 
All members of a chamber group must submit the application individually.

Payments must be made through the PayPal link or mailed to:
BeneSori Music Foundation
360 Sylvan Ave., Suite 1, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Please make checks payable to BeneSori Music Foundation. We will not be able to process applications without payment.

Additional information can be obtained via email at info@ivcompetition.com
Application and payment deadline is April 19, 2020.

2019 IVC Winners

Congratulations to All Winners !

Grand – Featured soloist with the NY Tutti Ensemble (spring or fall of 2020)

Aram Kim, violin (age 16)

Gold

Tien-Lin Yang, violin (age 17) – $250 IVC award and alternate Grand Winner
Myra Cui, violin (age 14) – $250 Main Violin award
Jessica Jeon, violin (age 10) – $250 Main Violin award
Rebecca Cho, cello (age 14) – $250 IVC award
Lily Kwak, piano (age 16) – $250 KMS Capital award
Sorella Piano Trio, (Renee Choi, violin, Yireh Choi, cello, Ashley Kim, piano) – $250 KMS Capital award

Silver

Victoria Fang, piano
Bernadette Kim, violin
Irene Kim, violin
Natalie Oh, violin
Tristan Semmelhack, violin
David Song, violin
Nicholas Yoo, violin
Sunjoo Lucas Park, viola

Bronze

Claire Chang, piano
Jeremy Jahng , viola
Alexander Moon, cello
Kathleen Zhang, cello
Avyn Jeung, violin
Amie Shen, violin

Honorable Mention

Sebin Jeung, violin
Raymond Jin, violin
Norah Wang, cello

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Christopher Ferrara : Violin

Brooklyn-based violinist, Christopher Ferrara, has gained international recognition as an acclaimed chamber musician and prominent educator throughout the United States and Europe. Redefining what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century, Ferrara has incorporated his enthusiasm for chamber music and all-things-tech to draw an entirely new demographic to the concert hall.  From live video broadcast to intimate 360 camera footage of performances, Ferrara is committed to reimagining ways to connect audiences to live chamber music performances.

As a performer, Ferrara has shared the stage with many of today’s leading artists including former and current members of the Ensō, Jack, Daedalus, Brentano, Cooperstown, and Emerson String Quartets.  He is a regular invitee to chamber music series across the country and most recently joined the New York Classic Forum as one of their principal artists.

Fusing his proclivity for tech, videogames, and chamber music, Ferrara spent several years touring as principal violinist and AV engineer of the Triforce Quartet – an ensemble that specializes and performs videogame music covers.   During his tenure, the quartet gained international acclaim, recorded two full albums, and paved the way in fostering many relationships in the industry, including guest appearances with Video Games Live, Capcom Live, and performances at many notable videogame conventions such as PAX and MAGFest.

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Robert Reed : Cello

Robert Reed is an accomplished cellist and educator with an active performing schedule that includes chamber recitals, and solo appearances with orchestras throughout the US. Since 1998 he has been a frequent guest of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has toured Europe and Japan. He holds degrees in performance from New England Conservatory and from the University of Michigan where he received his doctorate. Dr. Reed counts among his teachers Laurence Lesser, Stephen Kates, Colin Carr, Erling Blondal Bengtson, and distinguished pedagogue, Louis Potter, Jr. (author of the Art of Cello Playing). Dr. Reed’s extensive experience as a chamber musician has been shaped by coaching from such figures as Leon Fleischer, Eugene Lehner, Benjamin Zander, members of the Juilliard and Cleveland String Quartets, victor Rosenbaum, Russell Sherman, and Martin Katz. Reed was also a member of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra for over 15 years, and he has appeared in performance with many notable celebrities such as the Three Tenors, Joshua Bell, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, John Denver, Rod Stewart, Yes, Deep Purple, Mary J. Blige, Earth Wind and Fire, and Andrea Bocelli, to name just a few.

As an educator, Dr. Reed has held positions at Eastern Michigan University, Hillsdale College, Albion College, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Interlochen Summer Music Camp. Dr. Reed is currently Associate Professor of Music at BMCC/City University of New York. He is a founding member of the Musica Trinitatis Concert Series at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Manhattan, and is an executive board member of the prestigious Violoncello Society.​

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Jinhee Park : Piano

Pianist JINHEE PARK has built an international reputation as a versatile artist of both vocal and instrumental chamber musician as she has given extensive performances in Italy, Korea,

Taiwan, United States, and China. During her current residency in New York, she has performed in Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Lincoln Center, and featured in WQXR’s Midday Masterpieces Series. In her native Korea, she had performed as a concerto soloist with Changwon Symphony and New Seoul Philharmonic. Aside from her performing career, she has worked with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Julius Drake, Hye-Kyung Hong, Christoph Prégardien, and Craig Rutenberg. During the summer months, Ms. Park has given extensive performances in Aspen music festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and Chautauqua Institution. She currently works at the Juilliard School and serves as a vocal coach at Manhattan School of Music and in Chautauqua Institution. Ms. Park received her Bachelor’s degree at the Seoul National University and received her Master’s degree at Juilliard School under the tutelage of Jonathan Feldman, Margo Garrett, Andrew Harley, and Diane Richardson. She is currently pursuing Professional Studies at Manhattan School of Music with Warren Jones as a full-scholarship recipient.

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Jun Cho : Piano

Pianist Jun Cho has appeared as both solo and chamber musician at major New York venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. Mr. Cho has also performed as concerto soloist with the orchestras of Rice University, The Juilliard School and The Mannes School. An avid collaborator, Mr. Cho has performed with renowned musicians including Ithzak Perlman, Kathleen Winkler, and Toby Appel. He has given extensive collaborative performances at the Aspen Music Festival and the Sejong Music Festival, and served as a collaborative piano faculty at the Heifetz Institute. He currently serves as a faculty member at the Perlman Music Program. Jun Cho received his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music degrees at The Juilliard School and currently resides in New York City while pursuing a doctoral degree at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.

History of International Virtuoso Competition

Welcome to the International Virtuoso Competition.
It is with great honor that I was given the opportunity to create the International Virtuoso Competition (IVC) in 2012.  In collaboration with the Korean Community Center of NJ, and with the help of staff, volunteers, and many of you, the IVC has become an established and recognized music competition.

I am so excited and delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the talents of these superb young virtuosos.  The jurors and I are always amazed  and impressed each year by the high level of performance of the applicants. Bravo everyone!

This New Jersey based international competition has been a dream of mine for many years.   Bringing together talented young musicians, from all the major conservatories in the area and abroad, provides them with the opportunity to compete with their peers for recognition.  There is so much talent these days, yet so little opportunity to shine.  Through this competition, I would like to expose these budding talents and give them the acknowledgment they deserve.

A special thank you to all the teachers, parents, students, and friends for their support.  Without you, this competition  would not have been possible.  I would also like to acknowledge Main Violin Shop and NV Factory Studio for their donations of prizes to be awarded.  Thank you again everyone and please support us for many years to come!

Yours in Music,

Khullip Jeung
IVC, founder and chair

 ADMISSION@IVCOMPETITION.COM
 Applications are to be completed online through the form here.

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