The Festival International de Musique Saint- Georges has announced the eight semi-finalists selected for the live Semi-Finals Round of the Joseph Bologne International Violin Competition, to be held November 20–22, 2025, at the Mémorial ACTe in Guadeloupe. The competition is part of the Festival’s 2025 edition, which commemorates the 280th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
The selection committee noted the exceptionally high level of international applicants and the difficulty of what resulted in just eight semi-finalists selected to be invited to Guadeloupe.
Jordan Brooks (23, South Africa/UK) – Education: Royal Academy of Music, London; Prizewinner: ROSL International Music Competition, Zhuhai International Mozart Competition; Performances: Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Bridgewater Hall.
Jaedon Daly (26, Canada) – Education: Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Toronto; Recipient: Bill McQueen Scholarship; Performances: Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony.
Brendon Elliott (30, USA) – Education: Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School; Laureate: Sphinx Competition; Performances: The Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Dylan Hamme (23, USA) – Education: The Juilliard School; Winner: 2024 Ligeti Violin Concerto Competition; Performances: Carnegie Hall (upcoming), St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Yigit Karatas (31, Turkey) – Education: Manhattan School of Music, The Juilliard School; Winner: Waldo Mayo International Violin Competition, Suna Kan Violin Competition; Performances:Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Carnegie Hall, international solo appearances in Europe, Asia, North America.
Karolina Podorska (22, Poland) – Education: Karol Lipiński Academy of Music; Winner: Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition; Positions: Concertmaster of Leopoldinum Orchestra; Performances: Warsaw Autumn, Edinburgh International Festival, La Folle Journée.
Pippa Sieppala (24, Finland) – Education: Basel Music Academy; Soloist: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Basel Sinfonieorchester, Turku Philharmonic; Prizewinner: Jyväskylä Violin Competition, Fondazione Ernesto Conrad Competition.
Keyanan Zhang (20, China) – Education: China Conservatory of Music; Winner: 2024 Khachaturian International Youth Competition, 2023 National Youth Violin Concerto Competition; Prizewinner: Europe–China Crescendo International Music Competition.
