Canadian violist Emad Zolfaghari has won first prize at the Primrose International Viola Competition. The 17th Primrose Competition took place at the Colburn School in Los Angeles from June 17 through 22, presented by the Colburn School and the American Viola Society.
The 19 year-old Canadian winner currently studies at the Curtis Institute, where he is an Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams Jr. Fellow, and co-principal viola of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
The prestigious competition, established in 1979, is the World Cup for the often neglected instrument.
Emad Zolfaghari, Viola
In addition to first prize, Emad took home the audience prize at the competition, where he performed Bela Bartók’s Viola Concerto during the final competition round.
The win includes a cash prize of $15,000, along with an invitation to perform at the American Viola Society Festival (next in 2026), and to participate in the semi-finals of the Concert Artist Guild Competition. The latter is an important career builder for young musicians, as winners receive a complete management package of support, performances in New York as well as other concert bookings, professional development initiatives, and much more.
However, he’s no stranger to competitions or wins, having already taken home:
- First prize at the 2023 Irving M. Klein International String Competition;
- The François Schubert Grand Prize at the 2022 OMNI Music Competition;
- First prize at the International Morningside Music Bridge Competition;
- Second prize at the 2022 Johansen International String Competition;
- Third prize in the OSM String Competition;
- Second prize at the 2021 Ronald Sachs International Music Competition;
- First prize at the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Competition.
Emad was accepted into the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists on full scholarship at the age of 12. He studied for a four year period with Theresa Rudolph, Assistant Principal Viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He also performed as a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.
He was accepted at the Curtis Institute at the age of 16.
As a soloist, Emad has performed with l’Orchestre Métropolitain at the Maison Symphonique in Montréal under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Roy Thomson Hall, the National Philharmonic in Strathmore Hall, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and the National Metropolitan Philharmonic, and others.
The Primrose International Viola Competition
Second prize went to Kinga Wojdalska, along with the Transcriptions Prize. Andy Park won Third Prize, ant the Illumination Prize went to Mao Konishi.
The Primrose Competition was founded in 1979 by the American Viola Society, at the time the first international competition devoted to the viola.
The 2024 competition included a work commissioned by 1993 Primrose Competition Winner Nokuthula Ngwenyama, a violist and composer, and the inaugural Honorary Competition Chair.
The jury for the final round consisted of: Ayane Kozasa (Jury Chairman, Japan/United States); Atar Arad (United States/Israel); Cathy Basrak (United States); Ensik Choi (South Korea); Steven Dann (Canada); Geraldine Walther ( United States).
Congratulations to Emad, and we’re sure to be hearing more from the talented musician in the years to come.
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