Violinist Nathan Cole Launches 2021 Violympics

The initiative's second installment will begin on June 14, 2021, as a series of 6 two-week training events in partnership with the Curtis Institute of Music

The events will facilitate top-level coaching opportunities for violinists of all levels and experiences.

The selected Violympians will undertake coaching sessions with Cole via Zoom, and will also perform for special guest violinists James Ehnes, Jennifer Koh, and Gil Shaham, as well as VC Artists Noah Bendix-Balgley, Augustin Hadelich, and Kerson Leong.

This edition of the Violympics is held in collaboration with the Curtis Institute of Music and its former Chair of Composition, David Ludwig. Together they have commissioned five new works, to be written by current Curtis composition students, for the participants to perform. A sixth work by Ludwig himself will round out the set.

"The success of the 2020 Violympics program really opened my eyes to the many possibilities and benefits of training and learning with a virtual community from around the world," said Cole. "I'm very thankful to the Curtis Institute of Music, David Ludwig, the Curtis composition students, and all the participating violinists who have come together to make this second launch of The Violympics possible."

"Nathan Cole's Violympics project is a model of forward-thinking music education programs," said Ludwig. "We are excited to partner with Mr. Cole, who is an alum of Curtis, to bring these new works to life to be performed by some of the top artists of our time. By encouraging the creation of music Mr. Cole is ensuring its future, and we are thrilled to be included in the Violympics community this year."