A look back at the third edition of the International Lutherie Competition, dedicated to the viola, which took place from Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 January 2026 at the Philharmonie de Paris.

 

Innovation and transmission: lutherie of today and tomorrow in the spotlight

 

Scheduled to run alongside the String Quartet Biennale, the International Stringed Instrument Making Competition is a co-production between the Musée de la Musique - Philharmonie de Paris and Talents & Violon'celles. Keeping with the tradition of major international competitions, the Competition is a unique platform that celebrates excellence in the craft of stringed instrument making and promotes the transmission of expertise.

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The competition is open to two categories: "Talents of Tomorrow" reserved for lutherie students and "Talents of Today" reserved for professional luthiers. Each year, candidates in the "Talents of Tomorrow" category must draw inspiration from a historical model. This year, for the eight instrument-making schools competing, the model was the exceptional ‘Stauffer’ viola, made by Girolamo Amati in 1615, the oldest known viola made in Cremona, preserved at the Museo del Violino in Cremona.

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This third edition, dedicated to the viola, once again confirmed its status as an unmissable event, attracting luthiers and luthiery schools from around the world, as well as the most discerning professionals and music lovers eager to discover this unique event. 78 instruments from 22 countries competed in the competition.

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The jury, chaired by Raphaël Pidoux, was composed of three solo violists, Ana Bela Chaves, Pauline Sachse and Miguel da Silva, as well as luthiers Ibiza Avalos, Riccardo Angeloni and Jonathan Marolle. With equal representation of musicians and luthiers of international renown, it ensured balanced technical and musical expertise for each viola during the closed-door pre-selections.

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During the rounds open to the public, the instruments entered in the Competition were played behind a screen by four violists from the Orchestre de Paris: Clara Petit, Flore-Anne Brosseau, Francisco Lourenço and Hervé Blandinières. They were then evaluated by the jury and the audience.

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The competition concluded with an awards ceremony, followed by a musical performance on the winning instruments and a discussion between instrument makers, students and the public about the instruments in the competition.

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"This competition plays an undeniable role in drawing attention to the craft of luthiery, and it is necessary to reward the best. Its crucial point is the opportunity it offers young talents to come into contact with recognised professionals. This is how my real apprenticeship began: through exchange, by observing and listening to great musicians. An event like this is not just a competition; it is a chance to open up all your senses and discover your own riches by learning from each other."

Veronika Hagen, violist and founder of the renowned Hagen Quartet

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See you in January 2028 for a fourth edition dedicated to the violin!

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