Eleven-year-old American violinist Jayden King has won First Prize in the Violin Section of the 2026 George Enescu International Competition, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the competition.

Italy's Francesco Papa won Second Prize and South Korea's Eun Che Kim Third Prize following the final held on Sunday at the Romanian Athenaeum. Jayden King also won the Audience Prize and the prize for the best performance of the set work, Lembit Beecher's 'Still Life with Fallen Stone', the organisers said in a release sent to AGERPRES on Monday.

The three finalists performed at the Romanian Athenaeum alongside the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Harry Ogg, in an evening that concluded the Violin Section of the 20th edition of the George Enescu International Competition.

In the final, Eun Che Kim and Francesco Papa performed Jean Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, while Jayden King performed Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35.

The results of the Violin Section were decided by an international jury chaired by violinist Mihaela Martin and comprising Liviu Prunaru, Vladimir Nemtanu, Bujor Prelipcean, Alissa Margulis, Kathleen Winkler, Ida Kavafian, Nemanja Radulovic and Nora Potter.

A number of special prizes were also presented during the final. Francesco Papa received the 3,000-euro Stefan and Valentin Gheorghiu Prize for the best performance of a George Enescu sonata.

Jayden King received the 2,000-euro prize for the best performance of the set work, for his interpretation of Lembit Beecher's 'Still Life with Fallen Stone', as well as the 1,000-euro Audience Prize.

The Playing for Tomorrow Prize went to Germany's Mariam Abouzahra.

Violinist Iohan Coman received the Sherban Lupu Prize, awarded to the highest-ranked Romanian competitor in the Violin Section.

For each of the three instrumental sections of the George Enescu International Competition - Cello, Violin and Piano - First Prize is worth 15,000 euros, Second Prize 10,000 euros and Third Prize 5,000 euros.

ARTEXIM, the organiser of the event, also awards prizes consisting of concerts and recitals at the 2027 and 2028 editions of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition, as well as during the 2026-2028 seasons of performing arts and concert institutions in Romania.

At the 2026 edition, music curator and strategist Andreas Vierziger is also offering winners and laureates of the instrumental sections mentoring sessions and personalised advice tailored to their professional needs and goals.

The George Enescu International Competition trophy was created by artist Mihai Bancila.

The 2026 George Enescu International Competition continues in Bucharest until 19 September with the Piano Section. This year's edition is held under the theme 'In Pursuit of Excellence' and attracted 819 entries from 58 countries and territories.

AGERPRES National News Agency is a long-standing media partner of the event. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)