Classic Violin Olympus International Competition has captured hearts and minds of musicians worldwide. Brainchild of Konstantin Ishkhanov and Pavel Vernikov, this event is hailed as one of the most highly anticipated new entries into the violin world. In this article we will explore the conception and evolution of this contest as well as the people who made it possible.
The Architect of the Vision
23rd of January 1970; Azerbaijani city of Baku; a date like any other. However it is on this day that a child was born, who would later leave his mark on the musical world. From his youth, Mr. Konstanin Ishkanov’s parents were always passionate about culture and music, creating a foundation for young Konstantin and unknowingly paving the road for his future. Initially exploring a career in innovative technological research, it became evident that his passions lay elsewhere.
2007 marked a new chapter in Konstantin’s life as he decided to radically change his focus, subsequently immersing himself in the field of culture and classical music, quickly realising the meaning of a true calling. An unorthodox approach employed by Mr. Konstantin Ishkanov was initially dismissed by his peers as unachievable and an unwelcome break from norms. Against all odds and through sheer perseverance he has implemented a conceptual revamp of groundbreaking events, projects and initiatives, hence revolutionising an otherwise stale scene.
The results spoke for themselves – a fruition of plauded exhibitions, academies and seminars, standalone concerts, record-breaking festivals, ice shows and ballets have followed. This can be attributed to Konstantin’s formidable energy and considerable entrepreneurial nous which gave life to these incredible ideas that may have previously been dismissed outright.
Thus, over the past thirteen odd years, Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov’s biography has been laden with the largest cultural showcases of our time, boasting among others the likes of InClassica International Music Festival, Modern Composers International Music Festival, and Symphonic Middle East Festival, along the Classic Piano, Classic Strings and Classic Winds series of competitions.
Other endeavours like the Accordi Musicali Academy touch upon every possible aspect of the musical and cultural world, all under a meticulous personal praesidium of Konstantin. Needless to say, the name of Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov has now become synonymous with the biggest cultural events across the globe.
Classic Strings
Classic Violin Olympus International Competition, set to present its preliminary rounds throughout 2024, with a Grand Final being hosted in the Emirate of Dubai from 22nd to 28th of April 2025. Classic Violin Olympus is considered an unprecedented project by all possible measures, a pinnacle of musical craft and yet another addition to the lustrous resume of Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov.
Dating back to 2017, the roots of this innovative musical contest were first conceived by Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov with an aim to provide an opportunity as well as public exposure for up-and-coming string players in the form of ‘Classic Strings’. Post 2018 launch and three subsequent iterations later this project is now focused on distinct iterations for violists, violinists, and cellists.
‘Classic Strings’ was met with widespread acclaim and attracted interest from musicians around the world. Having become a staple in the musical community, this event kept evolving to a point of being too big of an event to be catered for in just one occasion . With an ever-growing demand for time and resources, Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov found himself being gradually overwhelmed. Salvation arrived by a happy coincidence and a chance meeting with a fellow visionary, one Mr. Pavel Vernikov. The Ukrainian-born violinist, who came up with a concept behind Classic Violin Olympus, took up the reins as the Artistic Director for this novel endeavour.
The Road to Classic Violin Olympus
In the beginning this events’ concept was discussed with a singular focus on the violin; however, during the process both Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov and Mr. Pavel Vernikov had the epiphany that innovation to the musical contest domain and a break away from an outdated structure was much needed.
Mr. Pavel Vernikov reminisces: “I’ve realised that so many music competitions are, so to speak, children of the same parents. The programmes are often very similar, and even after a win, the opportunities to make yourself known and proceed into a good career are surprisingly slim. As an artistic director, I have tried to fix that as much as possible – which brings us to Classic Violin Olympus. I had the luck to find another person who is as proactive as I am – Konstantin Ishkhanov, the founder of Classic Strings. We met over dinner, we exchanged thoughts, and his reaction was immediately enthusiastic!”
A disruptive and innovative approach was required for Classic Violin Olympus to succeed and eliminate the shortcomings of dated routines. Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov and Mr. Pavel Vernikov have taken it upon themselves to revolutionise and rebuild such events from the ground up, taking them into an entirely new direction.
As a result, commonly expected customary programme pieces, the small-scale jury panels stacked with violinists, and even the traditional concepts were cut. Unwarranted barriers of fixed age limits or a single-round pre-selection phase were also removed. Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov and Mr. Pavel Vernikov brought an open-minded approach with no restraint, which in return enabled them to set about formulating a groundbreaking new paradigm.
It was agreed that Classic Violin Olympus shall prioritise presence of musical skill above all else. That there is no place for prejudice in any shape or form and applicants of all races, nationalities, religions and ages are free to participate and showcase their gifts.
Special attention was given to the pre-selection proceedings. The main intention was to ensure that the contest would succeed in bringing together the finest violinists in the world today. Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov and Mr. Pavel Vernikov have decided to include not one, but six different pre-selection contests to be held in six cities – Tokyo, Vienna, New York, London, Rome, and Dubai. Only the two top-ranked entrants from each of these events would be granted an invitation to participate in the grand finals.
The contest programme as a whole has undergone a robust structural revamp, where every finalist will be required to take part in a six-stage process, individually catered to highlight every aspect of their skillset. This commonly includes encapsulating solo recitals, ensemble and orchestral works, and culminates in an open discussion with the jury.
A grand total of €310,000 was allocated for the Classic Violin Olympus prize fund with finalists battling it out in front of an exclusive panel of 23 independent jurors, consisting solely of distinguished conductors and directors of world-renowned orchestras, festivals and concert series.
Grand Finale
The Grand Finale stage is nearly set, with five of the six initial stages already concluded and ten virtuoso violinists securing their place at this pinnacle event.
A testament to its broad appeal, these preliminary competitions were heavily contested, with jurors often finding it an extremely complex task to single out a winner among all the excellent talent on show. Stakeholders have been unanimous in their praise for these events, with juror Sarah Nemtanu remarking that “I was impressed by the resources deployed by Pavel Vernikov and Konstantin Ishkhanov to showcase classical music and allow all generations to challenge themselves! It is a truly impressive endeavour!”
Upon completion of the selection process, with the last two finalists yet to be determined pending the conclusion of the Dubai stage, we will be graced by a wide variety of performers, including such luminaries as Soyoung Yoon, Andrey Baranov, Yuki Hirano, Mariusz Patyra, Xiao Wang, Karisa Chiu, Boris Brovtsyn, Jinzhu Li, Haik Kazazyan, and Lorenz Karls. All eyes will then be set on Classic Violin Olympus itself, that shall be gracing the streets of the UAE’s most populous city this coming April.
In acknowledgement of their talent and hard work, all the finalists will see their labours rewarded with a €10,000 prize, while the champion shall claim a grand prize of €200,000! Furthermore, each of the jurors will select from the pool of finalists those persons deemed worthy of an opportunity to join their respective institutions on a stage at one of their future engagements, thus ensuring that the competition itself will provide further global exposure and performance opportunities for these gifted individuals.
The two men, who have masterminded every step of this long journey, are eager in their anticipation to see and experience the fruition of their efforts. “This truly will be a contest like no other”, Mr. Pavel Vernikov said. “It has been a lot of hard work but also a real pleasure to work alongside a like-minded person like Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov on this huge, ambitious project, and I cannot wait to see it all come together. I’m sure it’s going to be an absolutely amazing experience for us all.”
Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov has mirrored his colleagues’ sentiments, praising Mr. Pavel Vernikov “for his steady, guiding hand at the tiller as Artistic Director. It’s no exaggeration to say that none of this would exist in its current form if not for all his effort and determination”, he said. “I’m really very pleased with the scale and scope of Classic Violin Olympus; we set out to create an unmatched contest within the violin world, and every indication and feedback we have received so far is that we are firmly on the right track.
I’m thrilled to see what this last preliminary stage will deliver, and then to finally concentrate on the finale itself, which I am sure is going to be like nothing any of us have ever seen before!”
For more information about the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition, please visit the official website at classicviolinolympus.com.
