17-year-old violinist wins the 58th Premio Paganini International Competition

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The 17-year-old Chinese violinist Aozhe Zhang has been named the winner of the 58th edition of the Premio Paganini International Competition. He wins €30,000, a series of concert engagements and the opportunity to record his debut album with the label Platoon.

Zhang subsequently had the honour of performing on the 1743 ‘Il Canonne’ violin by G.B. Guarneri, which once belonged to Niccolò Paganini himself, in a gala concert on 26 October with the orchestra of the Teatro Carlo Felice, conducted by Philipp von Steinaecker.

Second prize and €20,000 was awarded to 22-year-old Rino Yoshimoto of Japan and third prize and €10,000 went to 15-year-old Kim Hyun Seo of South Korea.

The final round took place at the Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, Italy on Saturday 25 October in Genoa where the three competitors each performed two concertos: the mandatory Paganini Concerto no.1 in D major and another of their choice. Zhang played Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D major, as did Kim, while Yoshiomoto performed the Brahms Concerto in D major. 

Born in Hefei, China, Zhang studies at the Music Middle School Affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with He Xian. He most recently won third prize at the 2025 Sendai International Music Competition in June 2025.

In 2024, he won first prize at the Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition, as well as two special prizes. In 2023, he won the Golden Bell Award at the 14th Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music. 

Zhang has performed as a soloist with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Kunming Nie Er Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras.

The jury was chaired by Uto Ughi and comprised Pavel Berman, Pamela Frank, Mihaela Martin, Enzo Restagno, Sayaka Shoji and Ulf Wallin.