International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

06/12/2026

The 2026 Participants and Jury have been announced!

We are pleased to share the names of the 40 Participants and the Jury for the 12th Quadrennial Indianapolis Violin Competition, taking place September 17 – October 4, 2026. These violinists, representing 10 countries from around the globe, will compete for more than $350,000 in prizes, including the $75,000 Gold Medal, over 17 days, culminating in the Finals with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin.

View the link below for more details. We look forward to seeing you in September!

https://violin.org/2026-participants/

05/12/2026

🎨 Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 30 Grand Award Winners of the 2026 Juried Exhibition of Student Art (JESA) at ceremonies in New Albany, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Selected from more than 19,000 student artists across both states, these winners represent the best in K–12 visual arts. This year marks a milestone: JESA's first-ever expansion into Ohio in its 40-year history, made possible by the Cynthia P. Matthews Family Foundation.

Grand Award-winning artwork will be on display at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis this fall and will tour both states over the next three years.

Notecards featuring the award-winning artwork are available now at www.violin.org/jesa



Thanks to photographers Denis Ryan Kelly, Jr. (Indiana) and Kim McCoy (Ohio).

03/17/2026

The IVCI is excited to welcome 2018 Laureate Shannon Lee to Indianapolis for her Laureate Series debut with pianist/composer Arseniy Gusev on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 PM at the Indiana Historical Society. Their program explores a compelling arc of 20th-century music, from Stravinsky and Lutosławski to Szymanowski, Slonimsky and Gusev’s own "Crossroads." Click below to purchase tickets!

In her highly anticipated Indianapolis recital debut, 2018 Laureate Shannon Lee pairs with acclaimed pianist/composer Arseniy Gusev in a captivating 20th-century program.

02/23/2026

The IVCI is seeking a dynamic and engaging Director of Operations to oversee an office of four full-time employees. This is a multi-faceted position, responsible for a wide range of administrative duties including overall office management, personnel and finance, assistance with concerts and special events, and volunteer management. The position may be tailored to the specific skills of the applicant.

Come work with one of the most prestigious violin competitions in the world! Visit www.violin.org/employment to learn more.

01/14/2026

1982 IVCI Gold Medalist Mihaela Martin returns to Indy - Tuesday, January 27 at 7:30 PM at the Indiana Historical Society! As the first Gold Medalist in IVCI history, Martin holds a special place in the organization’s legacy. She joins IVCI Pianist Chih-Yi Chen in a recital entitled "Dances and Romances," exploring the rich intersection of rhythmic folk traditions plus expressions of passion. This performance will be livestreamed and available on-demand through Friday, February 6, 2026. (We thank Streaming Sponsor Marian Pettengill for her support.)

Program:
GRIEG Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 13
STRAVINSKY Divertimento
BEACH Romance, Op. 23
C. SCHUMANN Three Romances, Op. 22
ENESCU Violin Sonata No. 3, Op. 25

As the first Gold Medalist in IVCI history, Mihaela Martin holds a special place in the organization’s legacy. She joins IVCI Pianist Chih-Yi Chen in a recital entitled Dances and Romances, exploring the rich intersection of rhythmic folk traditions plus expressions of passion and desire. This per...

12/12/2025

The 12th Quadrennial Indianapolis Competition application portal is NOW OPEN!

Violinists from around the world, ages 16 to 29 during the competition and ready to embark on a concert career, are now invited to complete their application and begin uploading all materials (including videos). Interested applicants can click the link below for detailed instructions on submitting their materials. The deadline is 11:59 PM (Eastern), Saturday, February 28.

https://violin.org/competition

11/19/2025

Viva il Violino 2025 is almost here! We are pleased to share several newly-added auction items!

Although registration for in-person attendance has closed, supporters may still bid on both silent and live auction offerings from anywhere. To register (takes 2 minutes!), visit https://viva.afrogs.org/ #/index

Check out these new items and start bidding right away!

11/04/2025

Join us for our annual fundraising event - Viva il Violino!

Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Skyline Club - Indianapolis, OneAmerica Tower, 200 N Illinois St., 36th Floor
Co-Chairs: Lynda Goeke Katz & Barbara Riordan

Registration is now open and closes November 12. Both silent and live auction items are being added daily, from exclusive experiences to one-of-a-kind treasures. The event features a performance by 2014 Gold Medalist Jinjoo Cho and pianist Chih-Yi Chen.

Bid from anywhere! You don't have to be present to support the IVCI's 12th Quadrennial Competition next fall!

Click the link to register and start bidding right away! https://viva.afrogs.org/ #/index

10/08/2025

The IVCI is pleased to welcome Sean P. Dunlavy as its new Director of Development, succeeding Mary Jane Sorbera, who retired at the end of August after nearly two decades of service.

"I'm honored to join the IVCI," says Dunlavy. "This competition has a remarkable legacy of celebrating artistic excellence and elevating the next generation of world-class musicians. I look forward to building meaningful partnerships and expanding support for this extraordinary organization so it can continue to inspire audiences and nurture talent on the global stage.”

Glen Kwok, IVCI Executive Director, added, "We are delighted to welcome Sean to the IVCI team. His significant and highly successful development experience in the Indianapolis community will be invaluable as we prepare for the 12th Quadrennial Competition next September and for decades beyond."

09/19/2025

Welcome to the Juried Exhibition of Student Art! JESA is one of the most far-reaching multi-disciplinary art projects for grades 1-12 in Indiana (run by the IVCI since 1986), and is held in conjunction with each quadrennial violin competition. In 2022, JESA involved over 21,000 school children and 151 art teachers from 57 counties across Indiana. It is also one of the few programs that awards a cash prize to each school or sponsoring organization of the Grand Award Winners, as well as to the students!

New for the 2026 Competition, and thanks to the generosity of the Ohio-based Cynthia P. Matthews Family Foundation, students in Indiana AND Ohio will be awarded $18,000 in prizes in each state.

Interested in learning more? Click to get started! https://violin.org/JESA/