Eleven-year-old violinist wins 2026 George Enescu International Competition

Read more news stories here

The final round of the violin division of the George Enescu Competition took place on 13 September at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, Romania. Finalists performed concertos with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Harry Ogg.

This year’s first prize of €15,000 was awarded to eleven-year-old American violinist Jayden King following his performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, making him the youngest winner in the history of the competition. He also won the €2,000 special prize for the best performance of the commissioned work, Still Life with Stone by Lembit Beecher, and the €1,000 audience award.

The second prize of €10,000 was won by Italian violinist Francesco Papa, 20, who also received the €3,000 special prize for the best interpretation of a sonata by George Enescu. The €5,000 third prize went to South Korean violinist Eun Che Kim, 28.

The €2,500 Șerban Lupu Prize for the highest-ranked Romanian contestant was awarded to violinist Iohan Coman, 24, and the Playing for Tomorrow Prize of €1,500 to German violinist Mariam Abouzahra, 18.

The prizewinners also receive opportunities including personalised career mentoring sessions with Andreas Vierziger and concert engagements.

King currently studies at the Juilliard Pre-College division with Masao Kawasaki, having been accepted at the age of seven. He won first prize at the Juilliard Pre-College All-Ages Concerto Competition and the Verão Clássico Festival and Academy, second prize at the Henri Marteau International Violin Competition, and third prize at the Andrea Postacchini Competition. He has also performed as a soloist at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and was a recipient of the 2026 Goldene Note.

This year’s jury was led by Mihaela Martin and comprised Ida Kavafian, Alissa Margulis, Vladimir Nemțanu, Nora Pötter, Bujor Prelipcean, Liviu Prunaru, Nemanja Radulović and Kathleen Winkler.

‘From the first round to the final at the Romanian Athenaeum, each stage has highlighted the talent, artistic individuality and dedication of a new generation of violinists,’ the competition posted on social media. ‘Congratulations to all the winners and to every competitor who took part in the violin section!’