History
Founded in 1957, the World Federation of International Music Competitions is a global network of internationally recognized organisations dedicated to identifying the most promising young talents in music. While providing a forum for dialogue and exchanges between its members, WFIMC provides guidelines, aiming for artistic excellence, integrity and fairness, and thus sets a globally recognized standard.
The federation is currently comprised of over 110 international music competitions and other institutions serving young musicians on their path to an international career.
The Federation is a member of the International Music Council of UNESCO in Paris.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Federation is supported by the Department of Social Cohesion of the Canton of Geneva.



Mission
The WFIMC brings together the world´s most important music competitions, striving for artistic excellence, authenticity, fairness, and equality to support young artists on the path to their international careers.
Who we are
Founders

Frédérick Liebstöckl (1900-1979)
Founding Secretary General

Henri Gagnebin (1886-1977)
Founding President
Honorary members

Philippe Languin
Former Board Member and Treasurer

Renate Ronnefeld
Former President and Secretary General

Lottie Chalut
Former Executive Secretary

Marianne Granvig
Former Secretary General and President

Idith Zvi
Former Committee Member
Former Artistic Director, The Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition

Richard Rodzinski
Former Vice President and Board Member

Dame Fanny Waterman (1920-2020)
Former Committee Member
Board members

Glen Kwok
Executive Director, Indianapolis International Violin Competition

Peter Paul Kainrath
President
Artistic Director, Ferrucio Busoni Intl. Piano Competition

Jacques Marquis, Fort Worth
Treasurer
President and CEO, The Cliburn Intl. Piano Competition

Rob Hilberink, Utrecht
Executive Director, Intl. Franz Liszt Piano Competition

Elisabeth Kozik, Munich
Vice President
Managing Director, ARD Intl. Music Competition

Noriko Ogawa, Hamamatsu
Chair, Hamamatsu Intl. Piano Competition

Marja-Leena Petas-Arjava, Helsinki
Executive Director, Mirjam Helin Intl. Singing Competition

Marcus Barker
Chief Executive, Sydney International Piano Competition

Sisi Ye
Vice President
CEO, The Schoenfeld International String Competition, Harbin

Tanja Scheimann
Managing Director, Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition, Hannover
Secretariat

Hana Saito Kantová, Geneva

Florian Riem, Geneva
Secretary General

Sarah Bétrisey, Geneva
Executive Assistant

Jinyoung Kim, Seoul
Manager, PR and Social Media