Record Number of Entries - Menuhin Competition London 2016 - The Largest Survey of Young Violinists

Now begins the involved assessment of the entrants’ performances, playing the competition’s challenging set repertoire, to find just 44 of the most talented violin stars of tomorrow, who will arrive in London in April 2016 to compete for the coveted prizes.

The competition has reached out across the world with applicants coming from a total of 40 x countries. The MENUHIN COMPETITION LONDON 2016 is delighted to have received first time entries from nine countries, including the first ever entry from an African country: Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova, Mongolia, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa and Turkey. The youngest entrant is just 9 years old from Taiwan.

Nearly 40% of entrants come from 28 x European countries; with North America, Asia, Africa and Australia making up the rest. The competition sees its highest ever number of applicants from the UK, with 28 x entrants – could there be a young violinist from 2016’s host country in the final 44 who will compete in London in April 2016?

Surprising results, statistics and information in the first MENUHIN COMPETITION SURVEY reveals that 82% of the entrants’ parents do not play the violin, with over 45% of the parents never having played any musical instrument. 66% of all the applicants are female and 28% of these talented violinists that have applied do not own their own violin. Another interesting result was that over 50% of the Juniors (under 16s) began to learn the violin under the age of 5. Does this show that more parents in 2015 have artistic aspirations for their child? This finding continues with the fact that 40% more Junior applicants, compared to the Seniors (under 22s), performed their first public recital under the age of 5. Do teachers and parents believe that it is now more important for very young children to perform in public? Full findings of MENUHIN COMPETITION SURVEY including favourite music personal stories from the young violinists below….

2016 is founder Yehudi Menuhin’s centenary and the MENUHIN COMPETITION LONDON 2016 will be a celebratory 11-day Festival (Thursday 7 April 2016 – Sunday 17 April 2016) of all things Menuhin! It will fill London with world-class music including major concerts from some of the capital’s best orchestras, a host of internationally acclaimed soloists, family concerts (Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead), world premieres (including John Rutter’s first work for violin and choir), masterclasses, exhibitions and outreach programmes – with the competition at its heart.

Website: www.menuhincompetition.org / Link to all photography: here

What inspired applicants to begin playing the violin? • I saw Itzhak Perlman play his violin on TVs Sesame Street! (American female applicant) • My sister was having violin lessons and I really wanted to join in, so my mother said ok, but lets wait until you are 3! (Australian female applicant) • I was adopted from an orphanage in Kazakhstan when I was 2, and suffered from speaking delays. Emotionally, I was very shut down, so my mother thought playing violin would help me come out of my shell. I took to music immediately and have been passionate about it ever since. (American male applicant) • When I was 3 years old, an old Jewish man who had escaped Nazi Germany called Walter Yorish gave me his violin to hold up to my chin. He said that one day I would be good, and I should practise! (British male applicant) • Seeing the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain perform the Alpine Symphony in St. David's Hall. (Welsh male applicant) • My parents took me to a fiddle club where I learned to play traditional tunes by ear. (Scottish female applicant)

Applicants favourite thing about playing the violin? • The violin has more places to explore than the entire universe has. (British female applicant) • My favourite thing about playing the violin is that there will never be an ending. Unlike school or work, I can enjoy playing the violin for my whole life without anyone stopping me. (Chinese female applicant) • It is my safety haven. (American female applicant) • Violin has been the one consistency in my life. It gives me opportunity to express all my thoughts and feelings. Performing and sharing these emotions and music is what drives me. (Korean/American male applicant) • The violin is my voice. (Canadian female applicant) • I love that what comes out of my violin is a direct projection of my imagination. (French/German female applicant)

Statistics and Facts • 28% of entrants do NOT own their own violin. • 66% of the applicants are female • 82% of entrants’ parents do not play the violin. • Over 45% of entrants’ parents do not play a musical instrument. • 40% more Junior applicants, compared to the Seniors, performed their first public recital under the age of 5. Does this mean that it is now more common for very young children to perform in public? • 80% of the Juniors performed with an orchestra in public for the first time between the ages of 7 and 12. Again does this show that it is more common for young violinists to perform in public? • Only 5% of both Seniors and Juniors applicants started playing the violin under the age of 3. • 40% of the Seniors began to learn the violin under the age of 5. • Over 50% of the Juniors began to learn the violin under the age of 5. Does this show that more parents in 2015 have artistic aspirations for their child? • 2% of the Juniors only began to learn the violin aged 9-10, meaning that they have been learning the violin for less than 5 years, yet still reached the high standard to enter the Menuhin Competition. • 10 hours = lowest & 70 hours = highest number of practice hours per week for the Seniors. • 6 hours = lowest & 63 hours = highest number of practice hours per week for the Juniors. • 78% = Of applicants play in a chamber music ensemble or orchestra (at school / college). • Highest number of applicants come from the USA = 28%; 2nd overall was Japan = 10.70%, with China in overall 3rd = 9.70% of the entrants. • Under 22s favourite piece of music to perform: 1st = Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto; 2nd = Sibelius Violin Concerto. • Under 22s favourite piece of music to listen to: 1st = Brahms Violin Concerto; 2nd = Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. • Under 16s favourite piece of music to perform. 1st = unaccompanied Bach; 2nd = Beethoven Violin Sonatas, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and Sarasate Carmen Fantasy. • Under 16s favourite piece of music to listen to: 1st = Brahms Violin Concerto; 2nd = Sibelius Violin Concerto.

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