A violin case is opened on a chair. The violin and the accessories are clearly visible.
A man is playing the violin in a picturesque mountain landscape. The surroundings are magnificent with mountains and plants.
A group of violinists is performing on a stage. They are wearing elegant clothing and are playing their instruments with focus.
A hand holds a violin, while a second hand touches the strings. In the background, a person can be seen engaged with the violin.
Three young musicians stand proudly in front of a banner of the 3rd Alberto Lysy International Violin Competition. All are holding certificates in their hands and wearing elegant clothing.
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4th International Alberto Lysy Violin Competition - Semifinal

09.10.2026 , Friday

Dates

20 young violinists from all over the world will compete in 3 rounds before a 5-member jury. The winner will receive concert appearances, including at the Menuhin Festival, a master violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume on loan for 4 years, as well as a cash prize. The final round will take place in the Saanen church, where the candidates will be accompanied by the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra. The first two rounds will be held in the large hall of the Gstaad church community center, where the candidates will be accompanied by pianists. 

The competition is open to the public — admission is free.

1st Round: Thursday, 8th October
Schedule: 09:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Semi-Final: Friday, 9th October
Schedule: 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Venue
Church community center
Untergstaadstrasse 8
3780 Gstaad
Switzerland

Final: Saturday, 10th October
With the St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra and its new chief conductor Pietro Rizzo
Schedule: 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Venue
Saanen Church
Chilchgasse 5
3792 Saanen
Switzerland

On the final day, a audience prize will also be awarded. The audience is invited to vote for their favorite. The winner will be presented by the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in the summer of 2027 in the series "Jeunes Étoiles".

The Alberto Lysy International Violin Competition was established with the aim of promoting young violinists from around the world and honoring the memory of the great violinist Alberto Lysy. The event is organized in collaboration with the Menuhin Center Saanen.

An internationally highly regarded jury will award the winner a high-quality violin by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume as a loan for four years.

The Jury
Adelina Oprean — Violin professor at the Basel Music Academy
Philippe Graffin — Concert violinist, professor at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris and the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels
Raphaël Oleg — Violinist, violist, conductor, and professor at the Basel Music Academy since 1995
Ettore Causa — Concert violist, professor at the Yale School of Music
Daniel Geiss — Cellist and conductor, coordinator of the Gstaad String Academy 2026 as well as conductor of the Gstaad Youth Orchestra

 

Kirchgemeindehaus Gstaad

Unteregstaadstrasse 8
3780 Gstaad

Show Route +41 33 744 53 30

Organizer

The Association Rencontres Musicales Camerata Lysy

Herrn Cetin Köksal

Route du Pré 7
1660 Les Moulins

Open Website +41 79 830 13 80 Send email