violin soloist in blue dress performs on stage with orchestra and conductor
The Thomas & Evon Cooper Competition

Cooper International Competition

Seohyun Kim, a 13-year-old violinist from Seoul, South Korea, was named the top prize winner of the 2022 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition.
Photo credit: Yevhen Gulenko

Founded in 2010, the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition is dedicated to presenting an important international competitive opportunity to outstanding young musicians.

The “Cooper Competition” at Oberlin, sponsored by Thomas and Evon Cooper, alternates annually between piano and violin. Open to musicians between the ages of 13 and 18, the competition culminates in a final round where the top three competitors perform a full concerto with orchestra. Cash prizes total $40,000, including a $20,000 first prize.

Learn more about the Cooper Competition sponsors

Violin 2025

The 2025 Cooper International Competition for violinists will take place January 5 through 10. After the drawing for order on January 5, live rounds in Oberlin begin on Monday, January 6 and conclude with the Concerto Finals with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra on Friday, January 10. Each round open to the public and will be streamed live.

The application deadline is October 1, 2024. Learn more.

 

2022 Cooper finalists
2022 Cooper finalists Calvin Alexander, Seohyun Kim, and Sameer Agrawal (from left), with Thomas and Evon Cooper.
Photo by Yevhen Gulenko.

News and Updates

The Forever Impact of Zach Smith ’26

October 4, 2024

Zach Smith ’26 is a chemistry major with a business concentration. This summer, he interned at CoreWater Technologies, an Oberlin-based company whose mission is to eliminate chemicals forever from our drinking water. Here, he discusses what he did, how he got there, and his hopes for the future.

Past Competitions

Media Galleries

2019 Cooper Violin Competition

Contact

General Information:

Anna Hoffmann
Program Administrator
direct: 440-775-8044
fax: 440-775-8942
ahoffman@oberlin.edu

Media:

Shelly Rasmussen
Publicity and Marketing Manager
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
440-775-5474
srasmuss@oberlin.edu

A Member of the Alink-Argerich Foundation since 2006.

About Oberlin Conservatory

Oberlin Conservatory of Music offers rigorous programs designed to prepare students for professional lives as performers, composers, scholars, and teachers. We welcome talented music students with demonstrated records of achievement to apply.


Warner Concert Hall.
Photo credit: Kevin Reeves