Winners announced at the Wieniawski International Violin Competition

The prestigious Wieniawski International Violin Competition concluded its final stage on October 22, 2026, at the Adam Mickiewicz University Auditorium in Poznań, Poland. The event featured a select group of talented violinists performing Wieniawski’s concertos accompanied by the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of conductor Łukasz Borowicz.

Emerging as the champion was Ukrainian violinist Bohdan Luts, who received the competition’s top honor, including a €60,000 cash prize alongside a series of international concert engagements and touring opportunities. His victory marks a significant milestone in a career already distinguished by previous wins at prominent contests such as the Long-Thibaud and Carl Nielsen International Violin Competitions.

Second place was claimed by Chinese violinist Jinzhu Li, awarded €30,000 and additional concert appearances, while South Korean SooBeen Lee took third prize, which consisted of €15,000 plus similar performance engagements. The other finalists – Jooha Choi, Anna Im, and Meng Zou – each received €5,000 in recognition of their achievements.

Bohdan Luts’s artistry is supported by rigorous training and mentorship. He is currently a student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, studying under Boris Kuschnir. His formative years also included studies at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, where he worked with esteemed instructors such as Oleg Kaskiv, Guillaume Chilemme, and Renaud Capuçon. His education has been further enriched through masterclasses led by renowned violinists including Gábor Takács-Nagy, Pinchas Zukerman, and Ivan Vukčević.

Luts’s performance career spans numerous European countries, having appeared at festivals and concerts in Switzerland, Finland, France, and Italy. He has collaborated as a soloist with orchestras such as the Copenhagen Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Latvian National Symphony, and the Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, reflecting his growing international profile.

The 2026 edition of the Wieniawski Competition featured a distinguished jury chaired by Bartłomiej Nizioł. The panel included prominent figures from the violin world such as Andrea Obiso, Liviu Prunaru, Gerhard Schulz, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Akiko Suwanai, Agata Szymczewska, Vera Tsu Weiling, Sungsic Yang, and Nancy Zhou.

The competition’s format culminated with finalists performing concertos by Henryk Wieniawski, a figure synonymous with violin virtuosity and Polish musical heritage. The event remains a significant platform for emerging violinists to showcase their skills and gain international recognition.

While specific details about upcoming editions remain limited, the competition continues to be a benchmark for excellence in violin performance. The 2027 jury lineup has been announced, promising continued high standards and a commitment to discovering exceptional talent.

The Wieniawski International Violin Competition not only provides financial awards but also facilitates career development through concert tours and engagements, essential for young artists seeking to establish themselves on the global stage. Bohdan Luts’s success story exemplifies how such platforms can propel gifted musicians into the spotlight, ensuring the continuation of the violin tradition through fresh voices and rigorous artistry.

This year’s event reinforced the competition’s reputation as a crucible for emerging violin talent, bridging the legacy of Wieniawski’s compositions with the aspirations of a new generation of performers. With Bohdan Luts leading the current cohort, the classical music world can anticipate compelling contributions from these rising stars in the years ahead.