The second Anja Ignatius Violin Competition takes place on 20-22 January 2023
The Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki organises the second Anja Ignatius Violin Competition on 20-22 January 2023 in the R building Concert Hall. Violin students of the Sibelius Academy, from the Junior Academy to doctoral studies, can participate in the competition. 44 violinists have registered for the competition.
The competition jury consists of cellist Seppo Kimanen and violinists Terhi Paldanius and Carolin Widmann. The purpose is to increase the opportunities for students to participate in violin competitions during their studies. For example, the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition is organised every five years, while the anticipated completion time of studies is currently 5.5 years.
The competition, organised for the first time in 2013, bears the name of violinist Anja Ignatius (1911–1995), who is counted among the first Finnish string players of international level. Ignatius, who gave her first concert at the age of 15, became known as the soloist of the Sibelius Violin Concerto and as a friend and interpreter of the iconic composer.
Anja Ignatius was a violin professor at the Sibelius Academy from 1955 to 1978. She is also remembered as the violin soloist at the closing concert of the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.