national-schadt-string-competition
About
25th Biennial Schadt String Competition
The Schadt String Competition is the biennial national solo string competition of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. Begun in 1997 following a bequest to the Allentown Symphony Association from Edwin H. and Leigh W. Schadt, the competition alternates every other year between violin and cello.
The First Prize includes a cash award of $12,000 and a solo concerto engagement with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra during the season following each competition.
Deadline is December 15, 2023.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR CONTACT LIST FOR NEWS AND UPDATES
ON THE NATIONAL SCHADT STRING COMPETITION
Winners - 24th Biennial Schadt String Competition
From left to right: Leonard Fu (First Prize), Shenae Anderson (Second Prize) & Russell Iceberg (Third Prize and Audience Favorite) - Photography: Marco Calderon
Honorable Mention: Jaewon Wee (Not Pictured)
The Story of the Competition
In their youth, Leigh and Edwin were exposed to the violin. Their father was a self-taught violinist and wanted his sons to learn to play the instrument that he loved. Henry commissioned a local craftsman and musician, John Johnson, to make a violin for each of the boys and give them violin lessons. The custom-made violins still exist, and are being used today by young violinists from the Lehigh Valley. Although Leigh and Edwin did not become violinists themselves, they kept their father's interest alive by establishing a trust to provide financial aid to promising young violin students. The trust provides scholarships to area string musicians, sends young musicians to music camps, and underwrites youth concerts. After the Schadts' deaths, the trust provided funding for the Allentown Symphony Association to host the Schadt String Competition.
Past Prize Winners
Nathan Le
Connor Kim
Timothy Chooi
Ania Filochowska
Hannah Cho