20th Khachaturian International Competition Announces Prizewinners

The 20th Khachaturian International Competition has recently come to a close. Established on June 6, 2003, to mark the 100th anniversary of the legendary Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, the competition reveals young talents in the categories of cello, piano, violin, and conducting.

This year, Japanese violinist Tomotaka Seki, a violinist representing Japan, won the first prize and a cash prize equivalent to $10,000 USD. Seki will also get to perform one concert in the 2025-26 concert season with an` orchestra proposed by the competition. He will also be awarded the use of a violin from the Florian Leonhard Fine Violin collection for a year. Lastly, Seki will be awarded a special prize a bow manufactured by the Haffnerbows company by Eszter Haffner, a member of the jury of the 20th Khachaturian international competition.

Sergey Mkrtichian from Russia received second prize and $5,000 USD. He will have the opportunity to perform for two years with a Strad ex-Huberman (1713) violin replica provided by the Laureate Concert Group.

The third prize went to Rio Arai, from Japan, who received a prize equivalent to $3,000 USD as well as an opportunity to perform at Berlin's Blackmore Concert Hall during the 2024-2025 concert season.

The jury comprised Vera Tsu Weiling, Ana Chumachenco, Eszter Haffner, Sergey Khachatryan, Péter Csaba, Koh Gabriel Kameda, and Zohrab Tadevosyan.