Jiachen Cao
He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree with Professor Ulrich Edelmann at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. He has won first prize at the Città di Barletta International Competition, and has received the Melbourne International Piano & Strings Festival Competition and has been awarded the German National Scholarship for two consecutive years. In 2025, he reached the semi-finals of the Sendai International Music Competition, performing Dvořák’s Violin Concerto with the Sendai Philharmonic and the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra.
Critic Hiromi Masaki praised his performances of works by Ysaÿe for “the power of explosive moments emerging from serene flow”, and his interpretations of works by Mozart for “breathing with the orchestra“ and ”creating a delicate ensemble with profound attentiveness”.
In 2026, he became a semi-finalist the International Henri Marteau Violin Competition. As Assistant Concertmaster of the Verbier Festival Orchestra in 2025, he collaborated with Paavo Järvi, Klaus Mäkelä and Gautier Capuçon. He also participated in the Kronberg Academy’s violin masterclasses and the chamber music project “Mit Musik – Miteinander”, and performed at Christoph Eschenbach’s birthday concert.
Stage One
J.S. Bach – Sonata for Solo Violin No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005, 2nd mvt. Fuga
W.A. Mozart –Sonata No. 35 in A major, KV 526, 1st mvt. Molto Allegro
H. Wieniawski – Le Chant du Bivouac, Op. 10 No. 8
H. Wieniawski – Polonaise de Concert in D major, Op. 4
E. Ysaÿe – Sonata for Solo Violin in E major, Op. 27 No. 6
[Pianist: Michał Francuz]
Stage Two
I. Albéniz – Suite española, Op. 47: No. 3 Sevilla (arr. J. Heifetz)
G. Fauré –Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13
N. Paganini – I Palpiti, Op. 13 (arr. F. Kreisler)
M. Weinberg – Moldavian Rhapsody, Op. 47 No. 3
Stage Three
P. Vasks – Fantasy for Violin and Strings: Vox Amoris
Stage Four
A. Dvořák – Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
Final
H. Wieniawski – Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22
