Welcome

2013 marks the 4th Windsor International String Competition.

Launched in memory of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, one of the founding Artistic Directors of the Festival, the competition is now the most important international competition in the United Kingdom for violinists, violists and cellists between the ages of 16 and 26 years.

Win a prize fund valued at over £15,000

Prizes for the competition are valued at over £15,000 with a unique opportunity for the First Prize Winner to return to Windsor to play a concerto with the world renowned Philharmonia Orchestra at the Windsor Festival in September 2013, and a recording opportunity with Champs Hill Records.

Windsor Castle, Location of the Semi-Finals and Finals of the CompetitionLocation: Windsor Castle

Semi-finals and the Final take place in Windsor Castle, one of the official Residences of Her Majesty The Queen.  Located less than an hour from London, London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world.

Latest News
Recording Opportunity now part of the WFISC First Prize

Windsor Festival is pleased to announce an exciting collaboration for the International String Competition and Champs Hill Records who will be offering a recording opportunity to Yuki Ito, winner of the 2011 Competition and to the winners of future WFISC finals.  Later this autumn, Yuki will record Rachmaninov's much-loved Cello Sonata for Champs Hill Records, to be released in Spring 2012.  The CD marks Yuki's recording debut.

 
Yuki Ito on winning WFISC

“I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support which my family and I and all the competitors have received from everyone involved in mounting this fantastic Competition. It is a huge honour to win and I am very excited about returning to Windsor in September to perform with the Philharmonia.”

 
WFISC Winner 2011 - Yuki Ito

In an incredibly exciting and close-fought final on Friday night, Japanese cellist Yuki Ito was pronounced Winner of the 3rd Windsor Festival International String Competition, walking away with a prize of £5000 cash, a bow kindly donated by Bishop Instruments and Bows, a concerto performance with the Philharmonia in the September Windsor Festival and other recitals. In second place was the Chinese violinist, Jiafeng Chen and in third place was the Bulgarian cellist, Michael Petrov.

 
Audience Prize

The 3rd Windsor Festival International String Competition Audience Prize, voted for by the audience on the night of the Final, went to Michael Petrov, the Bulgarian cellist currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

 

A special note...

“It is a huge honour to win and I am very excited about returning to Windsor in September to perform with the Philharmonia.”

Yuki Ito, First Prize Winner 2011

Track 1 Listen to Yuki    

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Dates for your diary

Yuki Ito Performs

Sun 18th September - 2011 winner Yuki Ito performs the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes in the Windsor Festival as part of his prize.  Tickets available from the Windsor Festival Box Office here.


 

Fourth International String Competition

March 2013 - Fourth Windsor Festival International String Competition.


 

2011 Winners

The 2011 WFISC Winners are:

2011 Winner - Yuki Ito
Second Prize: Jiafeng Chen
Third Prize: Michael Petrov
Audience Prize: Michael Petrov

 

 

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Image Credits - Brian O’Kane by Maureen Mclean. Diane Galvydyte by Kaptured Moments International. Windsor Castle by Gareth Dayus-Jones. Award Ceremony by Kaptured Moments International