Pre-Selection Jury

Gordon Back, Artistic Director of the Menuhin Competition – Internationally acclaimed pianist, recording artist, juror and Artistic Advisor of the Hattori Foundation and since 2013 Artistic Director of the Gower Festival. Gordon was one of the youngest ever appointed professors to join the faculty of the Guildhall School of Music (London). He has performed and recorded with Yehudi Menuhin, Nathan Milstein, Aaron Rosand, Josef Suk, Maxim Vengerov, Leonidas Kavakos and Sarah Chang. He became Artistic Director of the Menuhin Competition in 2004.

Simon Blendis - Simon Blendis enjoys an international career as a chamber musician, soloist and orchestra leader. He was the violinist with the Schubert Ensemble from 1995-2018, when the Ensemble retired after a celebrated 35 year career. Simon has been joint First Concertmaster with Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan since 1999, and in 2014 was appointed Concertmaster of the London Mozart Players. He is in great demand as a guest-concertmaster and has appeared in that capacity with most of the orchestras in the UK. Simon has recently been appointed a Professor of Violin at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Alf Richard Kraggerud – Alf Richard Kraggerud is one of the most successful and respected violin teachers in Scandinavia. Several of his students presently enjoy extensive careers, performing with major orchestras, participating in prestigious festivals, as well as appearing frequently in the media. In 1999 he assumed responsibilities for the talent section (pre-school) of the Barratt Due Institute of Music, an institution at the international forefront of musical education, and is now the Vice Principal.