Toronto violist Emad Zolfaghari has been selected to compete in the 79th Concours de Genève later this year. He’s one of 38 violists who have been selected from a field of 91 candidates who submitted their applications for 2025.
The 20-year old is among the youngest of the competitors, and the only musician to come from Canada.
“We are proud to present 38 wonderful young violists from around the globe. The competition wants to challenge them, help them develop their stage personality and enlarge their perspective. The preselection process was already a proof of the good spirit at the Concours de Genève,” says Tabea Zimmerman, Chair of the Jury, in a statement.
Fast facts about the competition:
- The competition was open to violists who were born after November 12, 1995, and the average age is 23.3;
- There is a 50/50 split between men and women candidates selected to perform in the online recital;
- Of the 38, 17 of the candidates are from Europe, 13 from Asia, 7 from the Americas, and 1 from
Africa.
The first official round takes place from September 8 to 14, 2025, and will take the form of an online recital that audiences can stream from the Concours de Genève’s YouTube channel.
The Semi-Final and Final Rounds of the Competition will be held from November 6 to 12 in Geneva, and will be livestreamed on Concours de Genève’s website and social media channels, with the final taking place in Geneva’s Victoria Hall with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
The prizes are:
- 1st Prize: CHF 20,000 (approx. $33,600 CAD)
- 2nd Prize: CHF 12,000 (approx. $20,000 CAD)
- 3rd Prize: CHF 8,000 (approx. $13,400 CAD)
Emad Zolfaghari, viola
Emad Zolfaghari hails from Oakville, Ontario. Emad studied at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists in Toronto before entering the Curtis Institute of Music in 2021 at the age of 16, where he currently studies as the Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams Jr. Fellow.
He is a past member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist with l’Orchestre Métropolitain at the Maison Symphonique in Montréal under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic in Strathmore Hall, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and the National Metropolitan Philharmonic.
Zolfaghari is no stranger to competitions — or wins. Past successes include:
- First prize at the 2023 Irving M. Klein International String Competition;
- The François Schubert Grand Prize at the 2022 OMNI Music Competition;
- Second prize at the 2022 Johansen International String Competition;
- Second prize at the 2021 Ronald Sachs International Music Competition;
- First prize at the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Competition.
In 2023, he became the first violist to receive first prize at the International Morningside Music Bridge Competition.
He currently plays a 1700 Matteo Goffriller viola on loan from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, and a 1786 Lorenzo Storioni viola and Eugène Sartory bow on loan from CANIMEX, inc.
Best of luck to Emad as he prepares for the first round of online recitals.
- Find more details about the Concours de Genève [HERE].
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.
Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox HERE.
- INTERVIEW | Pianist Pouya Hamidi Talks About Ladom Ensemble & Their Latest Release: Sofreh Tisch - May 22, 2025
- PREVIEW | Estonian Music Week: Conductor Jaan-Eik Tulve Talks About Vox Clamantis, The Music & More - May 22, 2025
- PREVIEW | Hamilton’s Bach Elgar Choir Performs Heaven and Earth: Brahms, Martin & Rheinberger - May 22, 2025
