Open to UK residents aged 12–24, the Brazenose Violin Competition will stage its inaugural final at St Martin’s Church in Stamford across the day on Saturday 10 October. The nine finalists come from a range of musical backgrounds and institutions across the country, including the Purcell School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School, Birmingham Conservatoire and Peterborough Music Hub.
With no two finalists having the same teacher, they represent a diverse group of young violinists who are now mastering their craft. The finalists will travel to Stamford and play a piece of their own choosing, which could include a complete concerto or sonata, or a selection of contrasting works from different musical periods and styles.
For the finalists, the competition offers more than the chance to win a fine, handcrafted instrument. The first prize is a Brazenose Fuoco violin, finished in Stamford by luthier Libby Summers, alongside the opportunity to perform in the Brazenose Chamber Concert Series in 2027. The competition is designed to support young musicians, giving them performance experience in front of an audience and industry professionals, as well as the opportunity to take home an instrument that can support their musical development.
Three professionals with extensive expertise in stringed instruments, performance and musical education will judge the final performances: award-winning international cellist Michael Petrov, a member of the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT); former professor of violin at The Royal College of Music and inventor Berent Korfker, renowned for creating the Pirastro KorfkerRest and KorfkerSpring; and Gaby Lester, Deputy Head of Strings at the Royal College of Music in London.
“A competition like this is about far more than technical ability or the speed and precision of a difficult passage. What matters just as much is the story each finalist brings to the stage,” says cellist Michael Petrov.
For the finalists, the competition represents different opportunities at different stages of their musical development. For Sebastian Taylor, the first prize would offer the opportunity to explore the possibilities of a higher-quality instrument.
“The first prize violin is considerably finer than the one I own currently, which has a pliable tone but some limitations of depth and volume. The opportunity to play on a Brazenose violin would expand my expressive range and power, allowing me to play with less effort and giving me greater freedom to make a more vivid connection with the listener,” says Taylor.
For Ciara Glasswell, the performance opportunity that comes with the first prize would provide valuable experience as she moves towards a professional career.
“Winning the Brazenose Violin Competition would be an incredibly meaningful step as I work towards my professional career as a violinist. The opportunity to perform as part of the Brazenose Concert Series would give me valuable experience of presenting myself as an artist and sharing my playing with new audiences,” adds Glasswell.
Pirastro, a leading German manufacturer of high-quality strings and accessories for orchestral instruments, is supporting the event by offering the finalists gifts and prizes. Every finalist will receive Evah Pirazzi Gold Rosin and a Pirastro goody bag in addition to the second and third prizes, which include Pirastro KorfkerRest LUNA, Evah Pirazzi Neo strings, and Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin.
The final will be held at St Martin’s Church in Stamford on Saturday 10 October over two sessions, plus an evening final presentation. Morning or afternoon session audience tickets are £10, or you can attend both for £20. All tickets include entry to the final presentation at 6.30 pm. For more information and booking, go to the Stamford Strings website.
Competition final
Date: Saturday 10 October 2026
Time: Morning session 10am-1pm; afternoon session 1.45pm-5pm; prize presentation 6.30pm
Venue: St Martin’s Church, High Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 2LF
Tickets: £10 per session | £20 day pass
Members of the public are welcome to attend, with all ticket holders invited to the prize presentation at the end of the competition.
Prizes include:
- First prize: A Brazenose Fuoco violin worth £3,995, plus a performance opportunity in the Brazenose Chamber Concert in May 2027
- Second prize: Pirastro KorfkerRest LUNA, Evah Pirazzi Neo strings and Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin
- Third prize: Evah Pirazzi Neo strings and Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin
- All finalists: Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin and a Pirastro goody bag
Meet the Finalists
Sebastian Taylor (20, Dursley, British)
- A Computer Science student at the University of Cambridge who balances his technical studies with a deep passion for music. A former leader of the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, he is seeking his first national-level evaluation. Winning would provide him with a finer instrument to expand his expressive range and connect more vividly with his listeners.
Rebecca-May Bartlett (12, London, British)
- Having started the violin at age four, Rebecca-May now attends The Purcell School and plays with the National Children’s Orchestra. Aspiring to become a soloist, she hopes a high-quality Brazenose instrument will elevate her sound and support her future ambitions.
Tracy Zhao (16, London, Australian)
- An accomplished student at the Yehudi Menuhin School with international competition wins, including the London Concerto Competition. Tracy views winning as a recognition of her hard work and a vital tool to explore new musical colours for future performances and auditions.
Ciara Glasswell (22, Stamford, British)
- Currently completing her MA in Music Performance at Newcastle University, Ciara brings a diverse repertoire to the stage. Winning would be a crucial stepping stone into her professional career, offering invaluable concert exposure and a central artistic voice through a new violin.
Farah Ashby (16, Offord Cluny, British)
- A dedicated student at The Purcell School focused on developing her musical expression. She sees the competition as a vital challenge to build her stage confidence and performance experience, with the prize being a major inspiring milestone in her musical journey.
Clarice Ngo (14, Sutton Coldfield, British)
- An exceptional talent who achieved Grade 8 with Distinction at age 8 and leads multiple youth orchestras. Her motivation is highly philanthropic; she hopes to use the prize violin for charity concerts and loan it to other young musicians who cannot afford a high-quality instrument.
Jasmine Anastasia Krol (14, Peterborough, British)
- A passionate musician whose journey started in Poland. Facing financial constraints due to family circumstances, she currently plays a loaned student violin. Winning would be a life-changing milestone, helping her achieve her dream of joining the National Youth Orchestra and studying at the Royal Academy of Music.
Sophie Beck (17, Grantham, British)
- An active ensemble player who loves storytelling through music. She is driven by a desire to share the joy of music with audiences and is eager to discover how a Brazenose violin would uniquely colour her performances.
Amisa Kuroda (14, Derby, British)
- Studying at Chetham’s School of Music, Amisa frequently volunteers to play at local care homes. She thrives on the motivation that public performance brings and is looking to upgrade to a professional luthier-made instrument to match her conservatoire-level playing at a conservatoire level.