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Georgii Moroz Leads Stellar Laureates in Singapore

Competitions

Fourth edition of the triennial SIVC brings 29 outstanding young violinists to Singapore, with Yong Siew Toh alumni claiming first and third prizes

Ukrainian violinist Georgii Moroz (24), based in Berlin and an alumnus of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), has won First Prize at the 2026 Singapore International Violin Competition (SIVC), held at the Esplanade Concert Hall in February. Presented by YST, the triennial competition has, since its launch in 2014, established itself as one of Asia’s leading international violin competitions and a landmark fixture on Singapore’s cultural calendar.

Moroz’s victory capped two intensive weeks of music-making in Singapore, following a global pre-selection round of blind-listened recordings and four live rounds. The competition brought together 29 candidates from over 10 nationalities, all under the age of 30, to perform a wide-ranging repertoire for solo violin, violin and piano, chamber music and concerto. The Grand Final saw three violinists—Moroz, then Michael Germer (23) from Copenhagen, and Zou Meng (24), now based in Singapore—each perform a concerto with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra under conductor Joshua Tan.

Georgii Moroz, first prize winner

The 2026 laureates reflected both the competition’s international reach and the strength of its local connections. Moroz received the US$50,000 First Prize as well as the US$3,000 chamber music prize. Germer, a graduate of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, took the US$25,000 Second Prize along with the US$1,000 prize for the best performance of the commissioned work, “Soliloquy” by David Loke. Third Prize went to YST alumna Zou Meng, who also garnered several special prizes: the US$5,000 violin and piano recital prize, and three US$1,000 prizes for the best performances of Bach and Ysaÿe.

Further distinctions went to violinist Karisa Chiu (Fourth Prize, US$6,000), SongHa Choi (Fifth Prize, US$5,000) and Qingzhu Weng (Sixth Prize, US$4,000). All six finalists were awarded three-year loans of fine instruments from the Rin Collection, including violins by Antonio Stradivari, Carlo Tononi, Domenico Montagnana, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Lorenzo Storioni and Francesco Pressenda. Prizewinners also received future concert engagements with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Macao Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, bringing total prizes and opportunities to over US$110,000.

The top 6 prizewinners with Mr. Aaron Thean (NUS Provost Professor), Mr. Peter Tornquist (YST Dean Professor), Mr. Baey Yam Keng (Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Transport), Ms Chong Siak Ching (Chair of the Governing Board at YST), and Professor Qian Zhou (Jury chair)

Artistic Director and jury chair Professor Qian Zhou—Head of Strings at YST—led an eminent international jury comprising Shmuel Ashkenasi, Augustin Dumay, Koichiro Harada, Ida Kavafian, Barnabás Kelemen, Itzhak Rashkovsky, Paul Roczek, Pavel Vernikov and Lina Yu. Reflecting on the 2026 edition, Qian Zhou remarked that what moved the panel most was hearing young artists “who do more than play beautifully… musicians with individuality, sensitivity, sincerity and true virtuosity—exactly the qualities SIVC seeks to nurture.” Returning jury member Paul Roczek highlighted the exceptionally high standard, noting that final decisions often turned on subtle differences in technique, interpretation and audience engagement.

For YST, the 2026 results marked a milestone: this was the first time a YST alumnus won the competition and the first time two alumni—Moroz and Zou—stood together in the Grand Final. Moroz, who previously reached the semi-finals of the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition and the 2022 SIVC, has also been a laureate at the International Jean Sibelius, Alberto Lysy and Arthur Grumiaux competitions. He currently performs on an 1829 J.B. Vuillaume violin on loan from Camerata Lysy.

As SIVC concludes its fourth edition, it continues to strengthen Singapore’s role as a dynamic regional arts hub, leveraging YST’s position within the National University of Singapore. 

Michael Germer, second prize winner

Zou Meng, third prize winner

Awards
First Prize : Georgii Moroz (24), Berlin
Second Prize: Michael Germer (23), Copenhagen
Third Prize: Zou Meng (24), Singapore

Jury
Qian Zhou (Chair), Shmuel Ashkenasi, Augustin Dumay, Koichiro Harada, Ida Kavafian, Barnabás Kelemen, Itzhak Rashkovsky, Paul Roczek, Pavel Vernikov, Lina Yu

Artists
Singapore Symphony Orchestra/ Joshua Tan (Conductor)

 

©WFIMC 2026/FR