Competitions › Primrose International Viola Competition
Primrose International Viola Competition
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- October 28-31, 2027
- Location
- Colburn campus, 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Registration deadline
- Applications open December 1, 2026; pre-screening video online application due March 1, 2027
- Fee
- USD 150 (nonrefundable application fee)
Source: primrosecompetition.org
Overview
Solo viola competition with video pre-screening, quarter-final, semi-final and a final with orchestra. Open to all nationalities. The final round is Hindemith's Der Schwanendreher with the orchestra.
- Organiser
- Primrose International Viola Competition (held at the Colburn School, Los Angeles)
- Instruments
- Viola
- Category
- Solo viola
- Age limits
- For the 2027 edition: 30 years old or younger on October 31, 2027. Must be current members in good standing of the American Viola Society. Past laureates not eligible.
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Online application through the Colburn School admissions portal. Pre-screening videos unedited and without identifying information. Deadline March 1, 2027 for the 2027 edition. Fee USD 150.
Rounds & time limits
- Pre-screening (video): max 20 minutes combined
- Quarter-final: max 25 minutes combined
- Semi-final: max 50 minutes
- Final: Hindemith Der Schwanendreher in full (no limit stated)
Repertoire
Pre-screening: a virtuosic solo piece (e.g. Paganini 24 Caprices or Penderecki Cadenza), a solo Bach movement, and first movement of a Classical viola concerto with cadenzas. Quarter-final: two contrasting Bach movements, the commissioned solo work by Sungji Hong, and a contrasting solo viola work. Semi-final: Mozart Trio K. 498 movements II and III, a 19th-21st c. viola and piano sonata, and a transcription. Final: Hindemith Der Schwanendreher in full.
Jury & prizes
Jury
Not published on the official pages we could check.Prizes
- 2027 edition: 1st USD 8,000; 2nd USD 5,000; 3rd USD 3,000; Transcriptions Prize USD 1,000; Illumination Prize USD 1,000; Audience Award amount not stated
- 2024 edition (per 2024 guidelines page): 1st USD 15,000; 2nd USD 10,000; 3rd USD 5,000; Transcriptions and Illumination USD 1,000 each
Past editions
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source