Bogotá is preparing for a milestone in its cultural calendar as it inaugurates the first edition of the Bogotá International Violin Competition on October 30, an ambitious event that aims to position the Colombian capital on the global map of classical music. Organized by the Mayor’s Office through the Secretariat of Culture, Recreation and Sport, alongside the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (OFB), Teatro Mayor and Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano – with support from the National Association of Symphonic Music – the competition brings together 20 violinists under 30, representing 10 countries, who will compete for US$70,000 in prizes.
According to Santiago Trujillo, Bogotá’s Secretary of Culture, the competition is designed not only to showcase technical excellence but also to strengthen cultural exchange. “This contest brings together outstanding interpreters who also become active agents in our cultural network,” he said. “Through academic programming and masterclasses with Bogotá’s musical training networks, participants will engage in a dialogue that directly impacts new generations and strengthens contemporary creation, including a newly commissioned work in the required repertoire.”
World Violinists Unite Latin America
The event opens on October 30 at 6 p.m. at the Fabio Lozano Auditorium, with a concert titled “A Violin Journey Across Latin America.” The recital will trace the continent’s cultural richness – from the rhythms of the Colombian Pacific to Cuban son, Mexican son jarocho, Argentine tango, and the llanero traditions shared by Colombia and Venezuela.
The lineup features world-renowned Cuban violinist Alfredo de la Fe, celebrated for transforming Afro-Caribbean and Cuban genres through the expressive potential of the violin. Argentine tango will be represented by Giovanni Parra, a Latin Grammy-nominated bandoneonist, performing alongside Colombian violinist Daniel Plazas in a set blending Buenos Aires nostalgia with local influences.
From Venezuela, virtuoso Alexis Cárdenas – known for fusing classical technique with jazz and contemporary styles – will perform with Gabriel Borrero and Lucas Saboyá, guiding audiences into the vast sound world of the joropo. The Pacific region of Colombia will be represented through the collaboration of violinist Juan Carlos Higuita and marimba master Hugo Candelario González, bringing to life the mangroves, estuaries, and ancestral rhythms of the litoral. The evening will close with Colombian violinist Angélica Gámez, performing with Mario Pinto and the mariachi ensemble of Ricardo Torres in a vibrant tribute to Mexican folklore.
Elimination rounds run from October 31 to November 5, with the final held on November 7 at the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo. Tickets for the preliminary rounds range from 17,000 to 25,000 pesos.
A major highlight is the premiere of “Serenata pagana”, a commissioned work inspired by chants of the Colombian Pacific by Cali-born composer Carolina Noguera. The best performance of the piece will receive a US$20,000 special prize, in addition to the US$30,000 first prize and US$20,000 second prize.
The competition’s prestige is reinforced by an international jury of celebrated violinists, chaired by Canadian maestro Lucie Robert. She is joined by Lee-Chin Siow (Singapore), Birgit Kolar (Austria), Silvia Marcovici (Romania), Leticia Moreno (Spain) and Alexis Cárdenas (Venezuela). Their presence positions Bogotá as a serious contender in the world’s classical-music circuit.
Twenty Rising Stars From Ten Nations
- Colombia: Iván Orlín Ariza
- Austria: Julian Walder
- China: Mingnan Yue, Rufeng Lin
- Taiwan: I-Hao Cheng
- South Korea: Youngjoo Lee
- United States: Anaïs Feller, Audrey Erin Park, Brandon Zachary Yujay, Hannah Yunhee Song, Leah Catherine Amory, Noelle Naito
- Italy: Francesco Papa, Lucilla Rose Mariotti
- Japan: Aoi Saito, Kaoruko Yoshida
- Poland: Sara Dragan
- Russia: Maria Lundina, Emil Mukhametshin
- Sweden: Lorenz Karls
Colombia’s sole representative is Iván Orlín Ariza, now based in Switzerland, who began playing violin at age six. His training spans the Zurich University of the Arts, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, the Reina Sofía School in Madrid, and the University of the Arts in Berlin.
Other contestants bring equally impressive résumés. The U.S. delegation alone includes multiple laureates from Juilliard and the Curtis Institute, while Europe’s representatives range from Russian prodigies to established competition winners from Italy, Sweden and Poland. Asia’s performers — including entrants from China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan — contribute to a truly global panorama of emerging virtuosi.
A Cultural Bet on Beauty and Excellence
For the Secretary of Culture, an accomplished violinist himself, the competition signals Bogotá’s artistic maturity. “It is important for the city to witness this search for perfection and artistic meaning,” he said. “In a city marked by polarization and everyday challenges, events like this remind us that we are a global stage for culture.”
Follow the event of social media with the hashtag #ConcursoInternacionalDeViolín. Tickets available at TuBoleta.com @tuboleta or ticket booths at the leading venues Teatro Mayor and Auditorio Fabio Lozano (Carrera 4 No.22 – 61). Listen to the official playlist on Spotify.
