Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition Seeks Nominations for the Isaac Stern Award

July 14, 2016, 11:29 AM · Nominations are due July 25 for the Isaac Stern Award – Human Spirit Award, a US$10,000 prize to be awarded on the last day of the inaugural Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition in September.

The award is separate from the awards for competitors; it is meant for to an individual, in any field and from any part of the world, who has made an outstanding contribution to our understanding of humanity through the medium of music.

Isaac Stern. Photo from the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition.

"The Isaac Stern Award recognizes anyone who has made great efforts to promote the art of music – ranging from an obscure teacher, to a world famous soloist, to a music lover from any walk of life. This award reflects Isaac Stern’s life-long conviction that music makes the world a better place," said a press release about the award.

The laureate will be selected by Long Yu, chair of the competition’s organization committee; Yo-Yo Ma, by special invitation; and members of the Stern family.

Anyone can submit a nomination by sending the candidates’ stories, together with the contact information of the nominator, to the competition's official email address: sisivc@shcompetition.com. The result will be announced on September 2, the last day of the competition, and a representative of the Stern family will present the award to the laureate on-stage.

The Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition will take place August 14 to September 2 in China, with 36 violinists ages 18-32 competing for a grand prize of $100,000, with a second prize of $50,000 and a third prize of $25,000.