Colburn and the American Viola Society Announce the 2027 Primrose International Viola Competition

Featuring the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by composer Sungji Hong

Applications Open December 1, 2026

Tickets on sale in spring 2027

(Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Los Angeles, CA) – Colburn and the American Viola Society today announced the 18th Primrose International Viola Competition, taking place October 28 – 31, 2027 on the Colburn campus in Los Angeles. The competition will run concurrently with the Primrose Festival, a three-day celebration of the viola bringing together performers, educators, students, luthiers, and viola enthusiasts for performances, masterclasses, presentations, exhibits and much more.

As one of the world’s most renowned string instrument competitions, the Primrose International Viola Competition features some of the world’s most accomplished and promising emerging violists. An exciting international competition culminating in an exhilarating final live round performed with orchestra, the Competition will bring world-class performances and a broad survey of the viola repertoire to Colburn. All live rounds will take place at Colburn and will be open to the public. Applications open on December 1, 2026 and tickets will go on sale in early 2027.

“The Primrose Competition is one of the highlights of our 2027 season. We are delighted to once again partner with the American Viola Society to welcome the world’s most gifted young violists and an esteemed international jury to our campus,” said Colburn President and CEO Sel Kardan. “Colburn has been the home for the Primrose Competition since 2018, and we look forward to another exceptional year of performances and artistic exchange.”

“For many competitors, the Primrose Competition comes at a pivotal moment in their artistic development,” said American Viola Society President Daphne Gerling. “For more than a decade, the American Viola Society and the Colburn School have partnered to create meaningful opportunities for violists on the verge of international careers. The Primrose is also a true celebration of the viola and its repertoire. I’m especially excited that audiences will hear the world premiere of a newly commissioned solo work by award-winning composer Sungji Hong. We look forward to welcoming participants and guests from around the world to Los Angeles for an inspiring week.”

The competition begins with an online Preliminary Round with applicants from around the world. Twelve live round participants will compete in the Quarter-Final Round on October 28, 2027, and six competitors will advance to the Semi-Final Round on October 30, 2027. Each round has a particular focus:

In the Quarter-Final Round, competitors will perform solo works by Johann Sebastian Bach as well as the commissioned work for solo viola by composer Sungji Hong and a contrasting solo work of choice.

During the Semi-Final Round, competitors will perform chamber music by Mozart, as well as a freely chosen sonata for viola and piano. The highlight of this round pays homage to the competition’s namesake, and features transcribed virtuosic pieces by William Primrose, or by the performers themselves.

In the Final Round on October 31, 2027, the three finalists will each perform Paul Hindemith’s virtuoso neoclassical tour de force, Der Schwanendreher (1935), in its entirety with orchestra.

The winner will be announced during the awards ceremony on October 31, 2027. First prize includes $8,000; recital appearances at the 2028 American Viola Society Festival, Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Series, and Colburn; and a three-year loan of the American Viola Society’s 18th-century Kloz family “Zanoli” viola. Second and third prizes are $5,000 and $3,000, respectively. Additional awards include the $1,000 Transcriptions Prize and the $1,000 Illumination Prize for the best performance of the commissioned work by Sungji Hong.

The live-round competition jury will consist of five pre-eminent violists from the United States and abroad, and a competition mathematician (who does not vote, but ensures the mathematical integrity of the scoring in each round). Members of the jury and renowned guest artists will be featured in the concurrent events of the Primrose Festival, open to violists from the wider public.

Founded in 1979 by the American Viola Society as the first international competition solely for violists, the Primrose International Viola Competition is proud of the rich history and legacy it promotes. For over 40 years, the Competition has continued to attract distinguished jurors and talented participants worldwide, serving as an inspiration to young artists across the globe. The Competition has an international reputation for identifying the talent of tomorrow and is respected for its artistic and professional integrity. Its laureates occupy principal seats of major symphony orchestras, act as professors in major centers of education, and have achieved critical acclaim as international soloists.

For more information about the Primrose Competition, please visit http://www.primrosecompetition.org/.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Applications open
December 1, 2026

Pre-screening/video round
Online application due by March 1, 2027

Notification of  live round competitors (by email)
May 3, 2027

Public announcement of live round competitors
June 15, 2027

Quarter-final round
October 28, 2027

Semi-final round
October 30, 2027

Final Round and Awards Ceremony
October 31, 2027

About Colburn

Colburn is a home for music and dance in Los Angeles, providing world-class performing arts education for its students and exceptional performances and programs for the public. This mission comes to life through a community of artist-faculty, staff, and donors dedicated to excellence, and in state-of-the-art performance spaces and educational facilities that welcome students, audiences, artists, and performing arts organizations from Southern California and across the globe.

Each year, more than 2,000 students come to Colburn, ranging from emerging professionals to young beginners. They study in one of four academic units—the Community School of Performing Arts, Conservatory of Music, Music Academy, and Trudl Zipper Dance Institute—which are united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction. More than $16 million in annual scholarship support helps students reach their full potential, regardless of their ability to pay. Serving all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact prepares students for sustainable careers and nurtures the passion and ability to serve their communities, while also offering a suite of pipeline programs for students from local Title I schools.

A destination for the performing arts, Colburn also presents more than 350 performances each year on campus and in the community. Featuring internationally acclaimed guest artists, faculty, alumni, and students and offered at accessible prices, these performances invite the community to experience exceptional music and dance while cultivating the next generation of audiences.

The vibrant intersection of education and performance is poised to grow significantly. In Fall 2027, Colburn will open a transformational campus expansion designed by Frank Gehry which includes Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, a 1,000-seat concert hall in-the-round; the Dance Center, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater; and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape. The Dance Center will more than double the facilities for the School’s Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, establishing one of the most comprehensive dance education complexes in Southern California. Located across the street from the existing campus, the building will significantly expand Colburn’s performance and educational capabilities and join the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall and mixed-use development The Grand in establishing one of the largest concentrations of Frank Gehry-designed buildings in the world.

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About the American Viola Society

Founded in 1971, the American Viola Society inspires excellence and builds community through viola study, performance, research, composition, and lutherie. The AVS provides support and resources for a global community of violists and viola enthusiasts with online resources, live events, competitions, scholarships, online series, funding opportunities, and the Journal of the American Viola Society.