The US–Japanese violinist receives $12,000 and a performance engagement with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra
The 2026 edition of the biennial National Schadt String Competition took place on 8 March at the Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, PA, US. This year was dedicated to the violin.
The first prize was awarded to US–Japanese violinist Keila Wakao, receiving $12,000 and a concert engagement to perform as a soloist with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO) on 13 and 14 February 2027.
The second prize went to South Korean–Australian violinist Yebin Yoo, winning $5,000 and a solo recital at the Miller Symphony Hall on 7 March 2027. The third prize of $2,500 and the audience prize were awarded to South Korean violinist Juyeon Diana Lee.
Born in 2006, Wakao has previously won competitions including the junior division of the Menuhin International Violin Competition and the Stulburg International String Competition, both in 2021. Among her accolades, she is the recipient of a Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant and received the Next Generation Distinguished Cultural Achievement Award from the Japan Society of Boston. Wakao premiered a violin concerto by composer Bobby Ge in November 2025, and will make her Tanglewood Music Festival debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in July this year.
This year’s jury comprised Diane Wittry, Martin Chalifour and Paul Kantor. Previous violin winners of the competition include Leonard Fu, Timothy Chooi and So Jin Kim.
Read: Winners announced for the 2026 Leipzig Bach Competition
Watch: Keila Wakao’s prize-winning performance at the 2021 Menuhin Competition Junior Finals
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