• Application Deadline: Saturday, April 26, 2026 (11:59pm)
• CLICK HERE to apply
• Preliminary Round: Saturday, May 2, 2026 (scheduled time slots will be assigned)
• Finals:
  • Category A: Friday, July 3, 2026
  • Category B: Sunday, July 5, 2026

Applicants must:

• Be 8–23 years old on the preliminary competition date.
• Reside in Ventura or Santa Barbara County OR study with an Instructor who resides in either Ventura or Santa Barbara County OR be enrolled in the 2026 Schwab Summer Academy.
• Contestants must fill out and submit the competition application form by the deadline April 26, 2025 (11:59pm).
• Perform live at the Preliminary Round (May 2) at Ventura College.
• Be available for all required Final Round rehearsals and for the Final Concert

There will be two categories of competition (please specify your category upon entry form submission).

Category A: Perform a full concerto from memory at the Final Round (July 3) if chosen to advance from Preliminary Round.

Category B: Perform a Concerto movement (sheet music allowed) at the Final Round (July 5) if chosen to advance from Preliminary Round.

• Contestants must provide their own piano accompanist.
• Sheet music allowed for Category B only.
• Auditions times will be assigned between 8 AM – 4 PM

Repertoire:

• Category A: One movement from the final round concerto (memorized) + one movement from J.S. Bach’s Sonatas/Partitas (violas may choose a Cello Suite).  Sheet music is allowed for Bach.
• Category B: One movement from a 17th/18th-century concerto (19th/20th-century pieces require approval) + one movement from J.S. Bach’s Sonatas/Partitas (violas may choose a Cello Suite).  Music is allowed for Bach.
• PDF copies of all selections must be emailed to vcschwab@vcccd.edu by April 26, 11:59 pm.
• If chosen as a Finalist, the Concerto or Concerto movement you perform at the Final Round must be same as you performed in the Preliminary audition.

Judging Information

Two judges will view preliminary auditions:

• Category A: Up to three contestants will be chosen to advance to the Final Round.
• Category B: Up to five contestants will be chosen to advance to the Final Round.

Category A

Rehearsals

• July 1: 5:30 - 8:30pm (50 minute time slots assigned)
• July 3: dress rehearsal: 12:30 - 3:30pm

Final Performance

• July 3: 5:00 PM
• Awards to be presented immediately following concert.

Category B

Rehearsals

• July 2: 5:30 - 8:30pm (30 minute time slots assigned)
• July 5: dress rehearsal: 1:00 - 4:00pm

Final Performance

• July 5: 5:00 PM
• Awards to be presented immediately following concert

Final Round Contestants must submit a recording of themself playing through their Concerto and submit it prior to June 15th. Accompaniment not required. Professional recording quality is not required; cell phone videos are fine.

All participants will receive a certificate of achievement  

Judging Criteria: - Finalists will be chosen based on their stage presence, accuracy, articulation, intonation, and overall musicianship skills. Judges will consider the difficulty of the repertoire as well as accurate interpretation of style.

• Awards – Category A:
  • 1st prize $2000
  • 2nd prize $1500
  • 3rd prize $1000
• Awards – Category B:
  • 1st prize $1000
  • 2nd prize $750 
  • 3rd prize $500

(Winners must complete a W-9 form and invoice to receive their monetary prize.)

Henry Schwab Violin and Viola Competition winners by year

2025

Judges: Mark Menzies, Tomasz Golka

• Category A
  • 1st: Leonora Vukovitz
  • 2nd: Isabella Zhou
  • 3rd: Carlos Ozuna
• Category B
  • 1st: Yiyi Chang
  • 2nd: Nicole Alexander
  • 3rd: Leo McDonnell
  • Honorable Mention: Maya Kim

2024

Judges: Sarah Thornblade, Sara Parkins

• Category A
  • 1st: John Wu
  • 2nd: Leonora Vukovitz
  • 3rd: Not awarded
• Category B
  • 1st: Isabella Zhou
  • 2nd: Kyler Chu
  • 3rd: Carlos Ozuna

2023

Judges: Mark Kashper, Melissa Phelps

• Category A
  • 1st: Skyler Lee
  • 2nd: Beatrice Jiang
  • 3rd: Karl Baumgartner
• Category B
  • 1st: Leonora Vukovitz
  • 2nd: Kyler Chu
  • 3rd: Carlos Ozuna

2022

Judges: Martin Chalifour, Andrew McIntosh

• Category A
  • 1st: Skyler Lee
  • 2nd: Zephan Bornfreund
  • 3rd: Bryan Huang
• Category B
  • 1st: William Chen
  • 2nd: Kyler Chu
  • 3rd: Karl Baumgartner

2021

Judges: Melissa Phelps, Diane Gilbert

• Category A
  • 1st: Rebecca Beerstein
  • 2nd: Skyler Lee
  • 3rd: Zephan Bornfreund
• Category B
  • 1st: Sophia Holdorf
  • 2nd: Anya Mozeck
  • 3rd: Bryan Huang

2020

• All events cancelled due to COVID

2019

Judges: Sharon Cooper, Melissa Phelps

• Category A
  • 1st: Rebecca Beerstein
  • 2nd: Skyler Lee
  • 3rd: Zephan Bornfreund
• Category B
  • 2nd: Anya Mozeck
  • 3rd: Bryan Huang
  • 3rd  Sophia Holdorf

2015

• Jaimee Cao (1st)

2010

Judges: Robert Lawson, Irving Weinstein, Jack Ullom

• 1st: Jonathan Tang
• 2nd: Mina Hong
• 3rd: Curtis James

2009

Judges: Yue Deng, Robert Lawson, Yihuan Zhao