24th KENDALL NATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION 2027
Conditions & Repertoire
Eligibility
Young violinists who are citizens or residents of Australia may apply to compete. Age restrictions apply to the categories of competition as detailed below.
Registration
Competitors should apply to compete by November 2 2026, midnight, using this form
Before submitting the application, applicants must upload their performance of the repertoire for the first round (with piano accompaniment where required) as an unlisted YouTube video recording or on a Google Drive. They must also pay the application fee of $125 to the Kendall National Violin Competition directly indicating the applicant's name in the payment reference. (Kendall National Violin Competition, Coastline Credit Union BSB 704 189 Account No. 1102 3993)
When completing the application form, please ensure that all video links are visible to anyone with the link. Invitations to the semi-final round (December 12 2026, Sydney) will be issued on November 9 2026. The jury for Round 1 will comprise eminent violinists or/ and alumni of the Kendall National Violin Competition. Decisions of the jury are final and the competition will not enter into any discussion about them. The competition may issue reserve invitations.
Competition Category A (violinists born after January 1 2009)
Round 1 Repertoire
a) A caprice by Rode, Dancla, Alard, Saint-Lubin, Wieniawski, Paganini, Sivori, Lipinsky or Vieuxtemps.
b) One of the following works to be performed with piano accompaniment
1) Beethoven, Romance F major op 50
2) Beethoven Romance G major op 40
3) Dvorak, Romance f minor op 11
4) Mozart, Adagio E major K 261
c) One of the following movements from a Concerto for Violin and Orchestra to be performed with piano accompaniment
1) Allegro Assai (Third Movement) from J. S. Bach, Concerto in a minor BWV 1041
2) Allegro Assai (Third Movement) from J. S. Bach, Concerto in E major BWV 1042
3) Finale: Presto from J. Haydn, Concerto C major Hob VIIa/1
Semi-Final Repertoire
A program of works not exceeding 25 minutes total performance time including
a) One of the following movements from a Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra to be performed with piano accompaniment
1) Andante from J. S. Bach, Concerto in a minor BWV 1041
2) Adagio from J. S. Bach, Concerto in E major BWV 1042
3) Adagio from J. Haydn, Concerto C major Hob VIIa/1
b) A short virtuosic work with piano accompaniment (other than a caprice) by Wieniawski, Vieuxtemps, Sarasate, Saint-Saens, Hubay, Laub or Paganini. No concerto movements are permissible.
c) One of the following works:
Jonathan Mui, Rhapsody No. 2
Tim Doubinsky, Sonata No 1, Temperamental
(accessible here https://www.kendallviolin.org.au/watermark-composition )
Final Repertoire
a) One of the following Violin Concerti in their entirety (performed with the Kendall String Academy ensemble)
1) J. S. Bach, Concerto in a minor BWV 1041
2) J. S. Bach, Concerto in E major BWV 1042
3) J. Haydn, Concerto C major Hob VIIa/1
b) A short virtuosic work with piano accompaniment (other than a caprice). No concerto movements are permissible. Repertoire from Semi-finals can be repeated.
Competition Category B (violinists born after January 1 2001 and before January 1 2009)
Round 1 Repertoire
a) Two contrasting movements from a Bach Solo-Sonata or Partita
b) A short 19th or 20th century complete virtuosic work. Concerto movements are not permissible.
c) One movement from a major Sonata for Violin and Piano
Semi-final Repertoire
Competitors should prepare a recital program not exceeding 35 minutes including:
a) Two contrasting movements from a Bach Solo-Sonata or Partita or Ciaconna d minor from Solo-Sonata BWV 1004
b) A short, complete 19th or 20th century virtuosic work. Concerto movements are not permissible.
c) A movement from a major Sonata for Violin and Piano
Final Repertoire
Competitors should prepare a recital program including
a) The first movement of a Violin Concerto (including cadenza) by W.A. Mozart to be performed with piano.
b) A major Sonata for Violin and Piano
c) A short 19th or 20th century virtuosic work. Concerto movements are not permissible.
d) The Kendall National Violin Competition 2027 Watermark Composition. The composition (a work with – or without piano accompaniment) will be made available to finalists from January 18 2027.
Finals
Candidates will be advised about their participation in the finals immediately following the semi-finals on December 12 2026.
The finals will be held as a public performance in Kendall (NSW) on March 6-7 2027.
The Kendall National Violin Competition will make a financial contribution to travel and accommodation expenses as agreed with finalists on an individual basis in advance of the finals.
The competition will engage a pianist for the finals of the competition. Finalists should arrive in Kendall on Friday March 5 2027 to be able to rehearse with the Kendall String Academy (category A) and pianist (category A/ B) for the competition. Alternatively, finalists must discuss travel arrangements to enable rehearsal with the competition’s pianist(s) in Sydney in the day/s before the finals.
All finalists of the Competition must be available to perform in a celebration concert on Sunday 7th of March 2027 in Kendall.